Outline of TMD Patients Enrolled in the Team Approach Program in Our Hospital

Shuichi Nomura, Mitsunori Monya, Kaori Miura, Gohsuke Kamo, Shoji Kohno, Yoshiok Hamamoto*, Ritsuo Takagi** Masahiro Suzuki***, and Hiroyuki Yamada****
Polyclinic intensive oral care unit (Director: Prof Shoji Kohno),
* Department of 1st oral and maxillofacial surgery (Chief: Prof Tamio Nakajima),
** Department of 2nd oral and maxillofacial surgery (Chief: Prof Yasushi Ohashi),
*** Department of 1st prosthetic dentistry (Chief: Prof Shoji Kohno),
****Department of 2nd prosthetic dentistry (Chief: Prof Haruka Kusakari),
School of Dentistry, Niigata University

Abstract :
　　A team approach for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) patients in our hospital started in November 1993. The purpose of this study was to obtain an outline of patients who were enrolled to our team clinic. A total of 703 patients were examined over a period of 30 months from January 1994 to June 1996.
　　Female patients were predominant, with a woman-to-man ratio of 3.23 : 1. Age range was from 9 to 82 years. The distribution of patients by age groups was 24% in 9-19 years, 33% in 20-29 years, 12% in 30-39 years and nearly 10% in 40-49, 50-59, 60-82 years. In the young population, patients under 15 years were 8.4% and 16-18 years were 11.7%.
　　The distribution of patient's residence showed 68% of patients came from Niigata district. Patients attended on referral to the team clinic were only 24.3%, this figure pointed out the necessity of more information to general dental practitioners and medical doctors.

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