The prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in Mongolia

Abstract

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) are identified by craniofacial pain and loss of function of the temporomandibular joints and masticatory muscles. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of TMD in Mongolian population. Method: A randomized clinical trial was conducted on 1515 participants between the ages of 18-65 from six districts of Ulaanbaatar city and eight provinces of the country. The prevalence of TMD was classified by the age, sex and geographical location of the participants. During the clinical examination, TMD symptoms (clicking sound, pain, stiffness, mouth opening limitation, etc.,) were recorded using a specifically prepared questionnaire and examination. Results: From the total of 1515 participants, 504 (33.3%) reported one or more symptoms of TMD. Among the different age groups, the 30-39 group had the highest rate of TMD with 120 cases (41.1%). The prevalence of TMD was higher among women (410 cases / 35.4%) than men (94 cases / 26.3%). Conclusion: According to the results of the study, the estimated prevalence of TMD in Mongolia is around 33.3%. Moreover, women are at a higher risk of TMD compared to men. There was no direct link between TMD and geographical location of the participants.