A SURVEY OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDER CONDUCTED BY THE GREATER-NEW-YORK-ACADEMY-OF-PROSTHODONTICS

The results of a temporomandibular joint survey sent to 167 members of the Greater New York Academy of Prosthodontics indicated a great vari ation in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with temporomandibula r joint dysfunction, Although most indicated that their background in temporomandibular joint disorders was from clinical experience and/or textbooks and the dental literature, only 59% treated patients for the se disorders, The most common diagnostic procedures were occlusal eval uation; joint evaluation for tenderness, crepitus, and click; evaluati on of range of motion of the mandible; and a muscular evaluation, Only 35% used a formal temporomandibular joint dysfunction questionnaire. The percentage of complete denture patients with these symptoms was 5% or less. Thirty-three percent of clinicians sometimes treated asympto matic patients who were without pain but had a click, Two thirds of th e respondents believed that surgery was sometimes indicated for disk d egeneration and displacement, More recent graduates are more likely to treat patients who have temporomandibular joint dysfunction than are older more experienced practitioners.