Abstract
We investigated clinical data concerning adolescent patients who were referred to the Pediatric Dentistry CLinic in Kagoshima University Dental Hospital for consultation and treatment of TMJ Dysfunction Syndrome during a period of 20 years, from 1982 to 2001. We also examined the difference between the data obtained during the first 10 years and those obtained during the second 10years. The results are as follows.
1. The number of patients during the second 10 years increased compared with that during the first 10years.
2. The ratio of female patients showed a higher frequency than the ratio of male patients for the 20years. Furthermore, it showed a higher frequency during the second 10 years than during the first 10years.
3. The ratio of pains was higher and the ratio of sounds was lower during the second 10 years than those during the first 10 years in the number of the patients categorized by the chief complaint, the number of initial symptoms felt by patients, and the number of clinical symptoms at the first medical examination.
4. The frequency in the use of occlusal treatment decreased greatly and the frequencies in use of physical therapy and drug therapy increased greatly during the second 10 years compared with during the first 10 years.
5. There was no significant difference in the effect obtained by treatment between during the first 10years and during the second 10 years.
