Journal of Dental Research, Vol 71, 1812-1815, Copyright © 1992 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
The relationship between level of mandibular pain and dysfunction and stage of temporomandibular joint internal derangement
E. L. Schiffman, G. C. Anderson, J. R. Fricton and B. R. Lindgren
Department of Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.
Temporomandibular joint internal derangement (TMJ ID) is the most common
intra-articular TM disorder and can progress from TMJ ID with reduction to
TMJ ID without reduction. It is not known whether this anatomical
progression is associated with increasing levels of mandibular dysfunction.
The objective of this study was to determine whether the level of
clinically detectable mandibular dysfunction was related to the stage of
TMJ ID. Two clinicians examined 42 subjects prior to bilateral TMJ
arthrographic evaluation. The level of mandibular dysfunction was
calculated by Helkimo's Clinical Dysfunction Index (Di) and the
Craniomandibular Index (CMI). Statistical analysis revealed that the level
of mandibular dysfunction as determined by the Di and CMI was not related
to the arthrographic presence or absence of TMJ ID. Therefore, the
clinician cannot assume that the level of mandibular dysfunction is
directly related to the absence or presence of TMJ ID. Epidemiologically,
the CMI and Di can be used only for estimation of the degree of mandibular
dysfunction, since they do not provide direct information on a specific TM
disorder.
