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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Chris PenlingtonORCiD, Dr Julia PalmerORCiD, Professor Justin DurhamORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Background Primary care dentists are often the first point of call for people with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) but it is not known how many people present to their dentist with TMD or the forms of first-line management that are routinely offered. Objectives To report rates of presentation of TMD and management offered in primary care by general dental practitioners in two similarly urban areas, Santiago, Chile and Nort-East England. Methods An online survey was developed and distributed to primary care dentists in both regions. Descriptive data were presented to quantify presentation rates and forms of management offered. Chi Squared analyses were used to test for differences in practice within and between the regions. Results The majority of dentists reported seeing 1 to 2 patients weekly with TMD and less than one new presentation each week. Symptoms were most often treated conservatively and with self-management according to international guidelines. The form of self-management varied however and verbal instructions were often not backed up by written information. Conclusions This research provides a useful starting point in understanding the presentation to, and initial treatment of TMD in primary care internationally. Further research could build on this work by including more countries and using more structured sampling methods. The work will be useful in understanding and planning early care pathways for people experiencing TMD.
Author(s): Penlington C, Palmer J, Martinez-Telchi D, Durham J, Tobar-Lahosa V, Casals MJ, Oyarzo JF
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Oral Rehabilitation
Year: 2023
Volume: 51
Issue: 2
Pages: 241-246
Online publication date: 07/09/2023
Acceptance date: 18/08/2023
Date deposited: 18/08/2023
ISSN (electronic): 1365-2842
Publisher: Wiley
URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/joor.13587
DOI: 10.1111/joor.13587
ePrints DOI: 10.57711/ygpf-3a79
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