Attending Lincoln Medical Center Bronx, New York, United States
Disclosure(s):
Matthew Muniz, DMD: No financial relationships to disclose
Abstract:
Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) 6-question survey in identifying patients needing TMJ disease treatment at an outpatient oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic affiliated with a residency program.
Methods: This observational study employed the previously validated DC/TMD 6-question survey developed by Gonzales, Schiffmann, and Gordon (2011), which the authors reported to have a sensitivity of 99% when administered across three academic health centers. The survey was administered to patients at a public urban hospital in an oral and maxillofacial surgery outpatient clinic. The survey was translated into Spanish using professional medical translation services. After completing the survey, patients who responded positively to 2 or more questions were examined by a resident doctor to assess whether they were candidates for potential TMJ disease treatment.
Results: Within 60 days, 360 subjects were screened, and 275 surveys were completed. The remaining subjects were excluded. Of the 275 patients who completed the survey, 42% (114 patients) answered positively to 2 or more questions. After an examination by a resident doctor, 1% (3 patients) were diagnosed with TMJ disease. Furthermore, the majority of respondents interpreted the survey as a questionnaire related to odontogenic pain.
Conclusions: The DC/TMD 6-question survey was not an effective screening tool for identifying TMJ disease in an oral surgery clinic due to its low sensitivity. One possible explanation for this is that the survey was administered in a different setting from its original validation. The survey may be more useful in general dental clinics, where patients are not seeking treatment for self-reported odontogenic pain.
