Role of Repeated Education to the Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders

Abstract

Aim : The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that treatment with self-checking behavior management program was valuable in the management of temporomandibular disorders compared with a existing method treatment group.Methods : All participants who are diagnosed with temporomandibular disorders were treated with medication and physical therapy. They came into the clinic at intervals of two weeks, three times. The signs and symptoms were assessed investigating Pain NRS(Numerical Rating Scale), MCO(Maximum comfortable opening), Noise NRS, LOM(Limitation of Mouth opening) NRS at every visit. Experimental group received instructions repeatedly by using self evaluation questionnaire. Control group was educated once at the beginning of treatment. The difference Pain NRS, MCO, Noise NRS, LOM NRS between first and second visits, first and third visits were estimated..Result :Experimental group showed greater improvement on MCO difference after stopping medication(p=0.001). This improvements were prominent in the male(p=0.001) and the first or second decade of the patients(p=0.004).Conclusion : The present study showed that there was better result when educating repeatedly with using self evaluation questionnaire than educating once at the beginning of the treatment.