 One in three people exposed to whiplash
trauma is at risk of developing delayed TMJ symptoms that may require
treatment, according to research published in the August issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association.
The complete press release from the American Dental Association:
CHICAGO (August 16, 2007)— One in three people exposed to whiplash
trauma is at risk of developing delayed TMJ symptoms that may require
treatment, according to research published in the August issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association.
Researchers at Umeå University, Sweden, studied short- and long-term
temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and dysfunction in 60 patients in
hospital emergency rooms directly after they were involved in a
rear-end car collision and evaluated them again one year later.
According to the study, the incidence of new symptoms of TMJ pain,
dysfunction or both between the initial examination and follow-up was
five times higher in subjects than in uninjured control subjects. In
the year between the two examinations, 7 percent of control subjects
developed symptoms in the TMJ versus 34 percent of study subjects.
According to the American Dental Association, the TM joint is one of
the most complex joints in the body. Located on each side of the head,
these joints work together and can make many different movements,
including a combination of rotating and translocational (gliding)
action, used when chewing and speaking. Any problem that prevents this
system of muscles, ligaments, discs and bones from working together
properly may result in a painful TMJ disorder.
When the
patients reported having symptoms in the TMJ either before or after
their accidents or both, the authors evaluated symptoms, including
clicking, locking and TMJ pain. They also asked patients to rate their
pain intensity and report the degree to which symptoms interfered with
their daily lives, including sleep disturbances, use of pain relievers
and the need to take sick leave.
“One in three people
who are exposed to whiplash trauma, which induces neck symptoms, is at
risk of developing delayed TMJ pain and dysfunction during the year
after the accident,” the researchers concluded.
Note: This study was published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, but does not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the American Dental Association.
About the American Dental Association
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representing more than 155,000 dentist members. The premier source of
oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health
and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's
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