Profile of a temporomandibular dysfunction and orofacial pain service of a Brazilian public university: what has changed in 10 years? Retrospective study

Abstract

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The search for healthcare services for the treatment of temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain has increased in the last decades due to the higher access to information and demand for treatment. The objective of this study was to analyze the profile of the service of caring for patients with temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain of a university service over 10 years. METHODS: The quantitative data on temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain care were collected from the School of Dentistry of Ribeirao Preto, from the Sistema de Informatizacao de Clinicas Odontologicas da Universidade de Sao Paulo (ROMEU) for a period of 10 years (2006 to 2016). The data included the total of patients assisted, discharges, absences, referrals to other disciplines, occlusal splints, self-management orientations, speech therapy and physiotherapy, low-intensity laser therapy sessions and electromyography tests. The data were descriptively analyzed. RESULTS: There was an increase in the number of patients assisted over the years, in addition to an increase in discharges and reduction of referrals to other disciplines. There was also increased use of pain education procedures and in the number of speech therapy and physiotherapy provided. The occlusal splints followed the increase in the number of patients assisted. CONCLUSION: Over 10 years there was an increase in the number of patients assisted, an increasing appreciation of the practices directed at pain education, self-management orientations, and multidisciplinary action. Also, the occlusal splint was shown to be a therapeutic option still widely used in dentistry.