ABSTRACT
Purpose. To estimate predominance of TMD of Tanta University students using Fonseca's questionnaire.
Materials and methods. This study was carried out between December 2019 and January 2021. It was done within students of eight faculties of Tanta University. TMDs symptoms were filled by the students and they were examined clinically to obtain the subjective symptoms of TMD by two clinicians from fixed prosthodontics Department, Tanta University. Final results were compared to Fonseca's clinical index, and the subjects were categorized according to their TMD degree.
Results. A total number of 574 students shared in the current study. 3% of the study population didn't have TMD symptoms and 33% of them had have severe TMD symptoms, with significance. Severe TMD symptoms recorded for faculty of Nursing (12.5%) as the highest value while faculty of Dentistry recorded the second highest value (5.30%). Sex and age-related TMD symptoms showed high significance (P=0.000). 2.6% of students suffered from severe TMDs as 2.2% males and 2.8% of females. Nervousness was the most common symptom presented in the study population (47%) and the lowest frequently reported symptom was difficulty in mouth opening (2.9%).
Conclusions. TMD is of a high predominance within students at Tanta University and its associated symptoms were frequent within students of dental and medical fields. Females showed a greater predominance of symptoms of TMD than males. Elder age groups showed higher frequency of severe TMD symptoms than youngers. Nervousness showed the most common symptom within students.