Feasibility of questioning at the diagnostic stage and the relationship between the subjective perception of temporomandibular dysfunction symptoms and confirmed diagnosis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2415-8127.2025.71.15Keywords:
temporomandibular dysfunction, early diagnosis, specialized questionnaire, subjective symptom perceptionAbstract
Introduction. Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) is characterized by an extensive array of clinical manifestations and ranks as the second most common chronic pain condition worldwide, affecting up to 75% of adults. Effective treatment of TMD is highly dependent on early diagnosis based on its broad range of clinical symptoms; therefore, early symptom assessment is essential even before conducting supplementary diagnostic tests. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a specialized questionnaire for the early diagnosis of TMD and to determine the correlation between patients’ subjective perception of TMD symptoms and the confirmed diagnosis. Methods.A total of 168 patients, aged 22 to 68 years, completed the specialized questionnaire, followed by a comprehensive clinical evaluation of the dentition, TMJ, masticatory muscles, and occlusal-articulation relationships. When indicated, additional diagnostic procedures–including electromyographic examination, ultrasound, and MRI of both TMJs–were performed to confirm the TMD diagnosis. Statistical analysis of the questionnaire data was then conducted to determine the relationship between patients’ subjective perceptions of TMD symptoms and the confirmed diagnosis. Results and discussion. According to the questionnaire results, patients most frequently reported fatigue and pain in the masticatory muscles, particularly during meals. This symptom, along with frequent headaches or pain in the TMJ area, was often associated with inflammation of the parotid region and was not attributed to dental pathology. Electromyographic examination revealed varying degrees of masticatory muscle tension. After a thorough examination, 32 patients were referred for additional imaging–ultrasound and MRI. Conclusions. The findings of this study demonstrate a clear correlation between clinically confirmed TMD diagnoses and the subjective perception of TMD symptoms reported in the questionnaire. The comparison of data obtained through primary and additional examinations with patient-reported symptoms underscores the value of questionnaires in the early diagnosis of TMD.
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