A survey on temporomandibular dislocation in facilities for elderly people

Abstract

If temporomandibular dislocation repeatedly develops in late-elderly people, their eating/swallowing function is greatly disrupted, and there is a risk of falling into a frail state, in which physical strength declines. However, since the incidence and condition of temporomandibular dislocation in patients who are in facilities for elderly people are unknown at present, the actual condition of temporomandibular dislocation was surveyed.

With the support of the Japanese Council of Senior Citizens Welfare Service, facilities for elderly people were randomly selected (Tokyo: 20/176 facilities, Aichi: 10/42 facilities, Okayama: 10/39 facilities, Tokushima: 10/10 facilities), and a questionnaire-based survey on temporomandibular joint dislocation was conducted. Items included in the questionnaire were facility name, respondents' name and job title, date of reply, total number of patients in the past year (admitted, outpatient), presence of a dentist, total number of patients with temporomandibular dislocation in the past year, number of temporomandibular dislocation cases that were difficult to manage, and number of instances where treatment of temporomandibular dislocation was requested to other facilities.

Thirty-nine out of 50 (78%) facilities responded to the questionnaire. In the past year, there were 0/1,653 (0%) outpatients and 12/3,240 (0.4%) admitted patients with temporomandibular dislocation in these facilities. The number with difficulty of relocation was 5/12 (41.7%) and the number of treatments requested was 6/12 (50%).

Although the proportion of patients with temporomandibular dislocation in elderly facilities was not high, the data reveal that a certain number exist. In addition, the high prevalence rate of 50% was among geriatric patients with complex dislocation.