Study of General Public's Knowledge of TMD : how predominantly is TMD understood by people

일반인에 있어서 측두하악장애의 인지도 조사에 대한 연구

This study was performed to research how predominantly TMD is known among people and how exactly it is understood. The data set up by this study could be used as beneficial references. Based on this data, people can be more knowledgeable of TMD so that they can recognize the signs and symptoms of TMD. Then, the patients can visit eligible clinician, TMD professionals. Nine hundred thirty six people (426 men and 510 women, ranging from 18 to 69 years old) were selected for the subjects of this study and were investigated by use of self-administered questionnaire. The obtained results were as follows : 1. 10.68% of the subjects were reported to have heard of the term, "Temporomandibular disorders". Females occupied significantly higher percentage than males and 18-29 age group occupied higher percentage than 30-49 age and 50-69 age groups. On the other hand, even more people (52.24%) were reported to have heard of the tenn, "Jaw joint disease". It also had same sex and age prevalences, too. 2. As for the route through which people have heard of TMD, more than half (58.38%) of the people mentioned mass media of communication (T.V. radio 40.36%, newspapers magazines 15.86%, internet 2.16%). Other people who had already heard of TMD (25.05%), dentist (7.75%), and other sources (8.83%) such as physicians, physicians of Chinese medicine, pharmacists were also mentioned. There were not significant differences among sex and age groups. 3. When it comes to the cause and concept of TMD, 32.59% of the subjects considered" an inappropriate overuse of the mandible" as the cause of TMD. There were not significant differences among sex and age groups. 4. The most frequently reported presumable TMD signs and symptoms were jaw pain (61.00%), jaw joint sound (57.80%), and difficulty with mouth opening (50.11%). 5. In answer to the question who is the eligible person to treat jaw joint disease, 35.26% answered the dentists are and 41.99%, orthopedicians. Of the people who chose dentist, 30-49 age group occupied the largest part. In the case of orthopedicians, 18-29 age group was the largest. 6. Of the 7.69% of subjects who had been treated of TMD, only 5.02% of them visited the dentist for the treatment of TMD. There were not significant differences among sex and age groups. 7. In answer to the question of how to prevent development of TMD, 58.87% selected "Avoid eating hard food", 58.65%, "Avoid opening the mouth wide", and 51.07%, "Avoid chewing gum frequently".