Signs and symptoms of craniomandibular disorders in a series of Finnish children

Abstract

The prevalences of subjective symptoms and clinical signs of craniomandibular (CM) disorders, orofacial parafunctions, and occlusal conditions were determined in a series of Finnish children (n = 166). All were first interviewed, and then 156 of them were examined clinically. Fifty-two per cent of the children reported at least one subjective symptom, and 75% at least one parafunctional habit. Clinical signs were common but rarely severe in accordance with Helkimo's clinical dysfunction index (Di). Both the number of subjective symptoms (p less than 0.001) and the number of orofacial parafunctions (p less than 0.05) correlated with the clinical dysfunction index.