Facts

Contact person:
Maria Pigg
Financer:
  • Folktandvården Region Kalmar län
Responsible at MaU:
Maria Pigg
Project members at MaU:
External project members:
  • Docent Anna Lövgren – Umeå universitet
  • Dr. Roberto Rongo – University of Naples Federico II Neapel
  • Professor Corine Visscher – Academic Centre of Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA)
  • Professor Ambra Michelotti – University of Naples Federico II Neapel
  • Dr. Suzanne Petersson – Linnéuniversitetet och Region Kalmar län
Time frame:
01 October 2024 - 30 June 2027
Faculty/department:
Research environment :
Research subject:

Project description

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is a collective term for painful and dysfunctional conditions in the masticatory system. The prevalence of TMD varies during the lifespan; in young children the prevalence is estimated to be low but increasing with age, and from adolescence and throughout adulthood girls/women are more frequently affected than boys/men. The reported prevalence is 7–30 procent.

The international standard for diagnosing TMD in adults is the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC-TMD), which comprises a standardized clinical examination (Axis I) and an evaluation of psychological status and pain-related disability (Axis II) using validated psychometric instruments. High validity and reliability were demonstrated for adults for the full protocol and an abbreviated form. Corresponding DC-TMD protocols for assessment of children (6–9 years) and adolescents (10–19 years), respectively, have been proposed, taking into account biological maturation and motor skill development as well as language acquisition, cognitive and socioemotional development.

The objective of our project is to test the feasibility and validity of the proposed protocols (full and abbreviated forms) in a prospective multicenter study, and also examine the validity of a 3-item screening instrument, the 3Q/TMD to identify TMD in these age groups.

The project is part of the research profile “Advancing Oral Health” supported by the Knowledge Foundation.