The prevalence and aetiology of craniomandibular disorders among completely edentulous patients.

Abstract

Two hundred and one patients awaiting complete denture treatment with the Victorian Denture Scheme participated in the study. One hundred and fifty three of these were females and 48 were male. The majority of the participants were above 65 years of age and had been wearing their present complete dentures for more than 15 years. Most of these patients were seeking prosthodontic treatment in order to replace their dentures which they said had become "loose" over the years. The information obtained from the interview-questionnaire and the clinical examination showed that parafunctional habits were common among 70% of the participants. In addition to this, pain and tenderness to palpation of the lateral pterygoid muscles was the only symptom which had a significant percentage distribution among the patients. Statistical analysis showed that there were some signs and symptoms of craniomandibular disorders which were correlated with these patients' complaint of loose dentures. It was also shown that signs and symptoms of craniomandibular disorders may be related to the patients' age and the number of sets of complete dentures worn in the past.