TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS IN THE GERIATRIC POPULATION

Contrary to popular assumptions that temporomandibular disorders may b ecome more prevalent with increasing age, a review of the literature s hows that this is clearly not the case. Instead, it seems that most ob jective ''signs'' of temporomandibular disorders, namely clicking, ten der joints and muscles, crooked opening, limited movement, and so fort h, are found either less often in the elderly or at approximately the same rate in all adult age groups. Subjective complaints, however, dec rease as populations get older, and the demand for treatment declines accordingly.