Abstract

This study tried to find the prevalence and distribution of temporo-mandibulr disorders(TMD) for workers (employee) in Seoul area to investigate the correlation between TMD and possible etiological factors such as general muscle and joint symptoms, headache, unilateral chewing and parafunction. This study was an epidemiological investigation of answers obtained from 282 persons by questionaire from Aug. 1995 to Nov. 1995. The major findings from the questionaire were as follows. (1) 43.26% of the subjects(282 persons) has TMD. (41.88% of man and 43.26% of women) (2) The more often people have general muscle and joint symptoms and -headache, the more susceptible they are to TMD. Their correlation was very significant(p<0.001). (3) The more people have bad oral habits such as bruxism, clenching and biting habit, the more likely they have TMD. The more sensitive people are to stress, the more frequently they have bad oral habits such as bruxism, clenching and biting habit. (4) Unilateral chewing has higher TMD index than bilateral chewing. There is no relationship between ache areas and TMD index.

• Keywords: Temporomandibular disorders;TMD index;Oral habits;