TRUE NORMAL TMD CONTROL SUBJECTS - A RARE CLINICAL FINDING

This study evaluated the accuracy of the clinical diagnosis of patient s with temporomandibular joint dysfunction symptoms compared to a grou p of asymptomatic volunteers, The clinical examination and history que stionnaire used during the evaluation of TMD patients were less accura te evaluating asymptomatic subjects than when combined with computeriz ed joint vibration analysis. ''True normal'' control subjects were rar ely found when these diagnostic modalities were combined in the TMD ex amination process. Most of the asymptomatic subjects had subclinical s igns of TMD, The small sample size is significant, especially since la rge numbers of subjects appear to be necessary to obtain even small nu mbers of ''true normals.''.