Abstract
Though various conservative treatments for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can reduce pain to some extent in most patients, complete pain relief can hardly be achieved. For one reason, psychosomatic and social factors are considered to influence that kind of pain.
To estimate the influence of these contributing factors on therapeutic effects, we studied 116 patients with unilateral TMD who were treated only by conservative methods for more than 6 months. Y-G tests and some questionnaires concering psychosomatic, social and environmental situations were performed at their first visit, and the therapeutic effects were judged after 6 months. The Classification of TMD proposed by the Japanese Society for. Temporomandibular Joint was used with limited modifications. According to the therapeutic effects, the patients were classified into an excellent group and a non-excellent one. The former had achieved both complete pain relief and more than 40mm mouth opening, and the latter had not.
As a results, patients' subjective symptoms, uneasiness and bruxism appeared to greatly influence their therapeutic effects, especially the patients with TMD classifications of type I and type III with clicking. Y-G tests, traumatic history at the head and neck and oral habits had no significant influence on the effects.
In conclusion, it was considered that the TMD should be treated paying due regard to various contributing factors such as psychosomatic ones.
