Diagnostic value of mouth opening width in patients with temporomandibular disorders

Abstract

Background: Mouth opening amplitude allows the evaluation of joint and muscle function, constituting a valuable tool to diagnose alterations in the stomatognathic system.Aim: To characterize the buccal opening amplitude of patients who attended the temporomandibular disorders consultation of the Dr. Miguel Enriquez Hospital, in the period January 2017-January 2020.Methodology: A retrospective observational descriptive study was carried out in the period January 2017-January 2020, forming a database from the information obtained directly from the medical records. Literature review and synthesis was performed and descriptive statistics were used for data analysis by means of absolute frequency distribution expressed in percentages.Results: Normal mouth opening width predominated in 61% of the cases. Severe mouth opening restrictions below 20 mm affected 7% of the females and 21% of the males. Twenty-three percent of the 30-39 year-old group presented severe limitations below 20 mm, while 19% of the 19-29 year-old group presented hypermobility. 65% of the patients who attended before 1 month of symptom onset recorded limitation of mouth opening.Conclusions: In patients diagnosed with temporomandibular disorders, normal mouth opening amplitude predominated, so the ability of the individual to perform this movement within the established range is not necessarily an indicator of absence of joint and/or muscle damage.

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