-Abstract-
This study was performed to investigate the masicatory efficiency in patients with
temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), especially internal derangement of
temporomandibular (TM) joint. For this study, 26 patients after treatment and 33 dental
students who had no signs and symptoms of TMDs were selected as the patients group
and as the normal group, respectively. Mean treatment duration of the patients was. 5.1
months. Verbal rating scale(VRS) and Visual analogue scale(VAS) were used for
recording of subjective symptoms. Treatment index (VAS Ti) derived from VAS was
calculated for evaluation of treatment progress and clinical examination was also
performed for objective symptoms. BioEGN(Bioresearch Inc., Milwaukee, USA) was used
for observation chewing movement pattern on peanut, caramel candy, and gum chewing.
Chewing time in second and symptoms after chewing were recorded, and pattern of
chewing stroke between in affected side and in contralateral side or between in right in
left side were compared, and especially, gum chewing pattern between before and after
treatment were also compared in the patients group.
The data obtained were analysed by SPSS windows program and the results of this
study were as follows :
1. Subjective symptoms evaluated by VAS showed no difference between the two
groups, but those by VRS showed slight difference for TM joint pain, head not neck
symptoms, and chewing ability.
2. There were no difference at the level of subjective symptoms between the subgroups
divided by treatment duration of five months in the patients group. However, value
of VAS Ti of pain was higher in subgroup of long treatment duration than that of
subgroup of short treatment duration.
3. There were no difference in chewing time for peanut or caramel candy between the
two groups, but on caramel candy chewing, the patients group complained slight
discomfort after swallowing. Chewing velocity and range of motion on gum chewing
after treatment in the patients group showed significant difference and greatly improved compared to those to before treatment, and which were not differ from
those of normal subjects.
In conclusion, treatment of temporomandibular disorders about for five months would
greatly improve chewing ability and movement pattern in most of the patients with
TMDs.
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