Analysis of treatment patterns of temporomandibular disorders

Abstract

Introduction: This study examined the treatment patterns of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) including conservative and surgical procedures. Materials and Methods: Patients with TMD who visited Gangnam Severance Hospital from June 2007 to May 2008 were enrolled in this study. All patients were examined from the orthopantomogram, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) tomography, and a clinical examination. The patients who required a further evaluation were examined by magnetic resonance imaging and/or computed tomography. The treatment patterns were divided into counseling, medication, splint therapy, botulinum toxin injection (BTI) and surgical treatment. Results: Among the 2,464 patients, the average age was 31.8 years (ranging from 6 to 93); 764 (31.0%) were male and 1,700 (69.0%) were female. 2,355 (95.6%) patients were treated with conservative therapy; 1,460 (62.0%) patients were treated with medication, 931 (39.5%) patients were treated with splint, and 46 (2.0%) were treated with BTI. There were 109 (4.4%) patients treated surgically. Eight (0.3%) patients were treated with total temporomandibular joint replacement surgery. Conclusion: Almost all patients with TMD were treated using conservative methods. Those patients who received surgical treatment because of an ineffective response to conservative treatment had definite problems with the internal derangement and/or osteoarthritis or had severe clinical symptoms.