General practice dentists' knowledge of temporomandibular disorders in children and adolescents

Aim: The aim of the study was to map general practice dentists' (GPDs) knowledge of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in children and adolescents. Materials and methods: A questionnaire was mailed to 286 Swedish dentists in the Public Dental Service and 17 TMD specialists with documented research experience. The questionnaire contained 37 statements on aetiology, diagnostics, classification, chronic pain and pain behaviour, treatment, and prognosis. Each statement was judged on a 0-10 point scale with the endpoint definitions agree or disagree. Results: The overall response rate to the questionnaire was 87%. In 28 of all 37 statements, the TMD specialists endorsed a consensus, i.e. >75% of the specialists had the same opinion about the statement. TMD specialists differed most in opinion in the domain diagnostics and classification. In 65% of the statements, differences in knowledge between GPDs and TMD specialists were non-significant. The greatest number of significant between-group differences was found in the domain treatment and prognosis. Most of these statements were related to morphological factors. Conclusion: There is a high degree of consensus in TMD knowledge amongst the TMD specialists and a high degree of agreement in knowledge between GPDs and TMD specialists. In some areas, however, TMD specialists still need to reach a consensus which is founded on evidence-based TMD knowledge in children and adolescents and that can be used in undergraduate teaching. It is therefore important to develop and strengthen the undergraduate dental teaching in TMD and orofacial pain

Can temporomandibular disorder symptoms and headaches be prevented in 13- to 15-year-old girls by information provided in a school setting?

Objective: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) may develop, especially among girls, during the adolescence period. The aim of this study was to study if information and advice in a school setting could prevent development of TMD symptoms and headaches during the early teenage period. Methods: Thirteen-year-old girls, at 19 upper elementary schools were invited to participate in a study with structured information about the jaw system, TMD symptoms and risk factors, as well as advice how to manage risk factor and TMD. Six hundred and fifty-one girls enrolled, of which 507 girls were followed for 2–2.5 years. Half received information on three occasions (cases), and the other half served as controls. Included in the analysis of incidence of TMD symptoms were those without frequently occurring TMD symptoms (not including headaches) at baseline (n = 396) and included in the analysis of incidence of headaches were those without frequent headaches at baseline (n = 297). Result: The 2-year incidence of TMD symptoms was significantly lower in the information cohort (19%) compared to the controls (28%) (p =.03). The 2-year incidence of headaches was lower among those who were allocated to information (30%) compared to controls (40%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p =.099). Cases who had headaches at baseline reported a significantly lower prevalence at follow-up compared to controls (p =.03). Conclusion: Standardized information in school settings can prevent development of TMD symptoms and headaches among young girls