Symptoms and signs of temporomandibular disorders among elderly Vietnamese

Background:To assess the prevalence of the symptoms and signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and determine the prevalence of TMDs among elderly Vietnamese aged 65–74 years old.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted among 258 participants aged 65–74 years old (128 females and 130 males) using two strategies for TMD diagnosis: a clinical examination of the temporomandibular joint and its associated structures using the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Axis I; and a set of 14 questions regarding TMD symptoms to obtain anamnestic data.Results:The prevalence of TMD symptoms was: headache 49.6%; temporomandibular joint noise 28.0%; orofacial pain 25.2%; jaw locking 3.1%; 62.5% of participants had at least one TMD symptom. Headaches were more prevalent in females than males (p=0.009) and rural than urban residents (p<0.001). The most frequent signs were temporomandibular joint crepitus (50.4%), clicking (48.1%) and mouth-opening deviation (37.6%). Temporomandibular joint crepitus...