The
temporomandibular joint [
TMJ] is a synovial
joint that connects the
mandible to the
skull. Each
joint is composed of
condyle of the
mandible, an articulating disc and an articular fossa of the
temporal bone.
Temporomandibular joint disorders [TMD's] are characterized by decreased mandibular range of
movements, inadequate
mouth opening and
TMJ sounds such as click, pop, crepitations. TMD's can be classified as
masticatory muscle disorders, Temporomandibular joint disorders, chronic mandibular hypomobility disorders and
growth disorders. This cross sectional study was carried out in the
Prosthodontics department at
Armed Forces Institute of
Dentistry, Rawalpindi. A total of 140 subjects were evaluated both clinically and radiographically to estimate the
prevalence of symptoms of TMDs as a function of age and
gender. The most common disorder in the age frame, less than 20 years was found to be disc dislocation with reduction, while disc displacement was the most common disorder in older
age groups. Inferior
head of lateral
pterygoid muscle was most commonly found to be involved in 88.6% individuals, followed by Medial
pterygoid muscle that was tender in 82.9% individuals