Diş Hekimlerinin Temporomandibular Bozukluklara Yaklaşımı ve Fizyoterapi Hakkındaki Farkındalıkları: Adana İli Örneği.

AYDIN, Nazlı; IŞIK, Emir İbrahim

Background: To evaluate cross-sectionally the approach of dentists in Adana to temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and their awareness of physical therapy, which is an important approach in the conservative treatment of TMD. Methods: The universe of the study consists of 1 072 dentists working in Adana province in 2024. The study sample consisted of 147 dentists who participated voluntarily. An online questionnaire was used as a data collection tool. The content of the questionnaire included questions about demographic and work experience, patient population and referrals, an informative poster about the role of physiotherapy, and then questions about it. Data were statistically analyzed using Chi-square, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, and Mann-Whitney U tests at the p<0.05 significance level. Results: The dentists participating in the study reported that 34.2±24.2% of their patients showed symptoms of TMD and 63.9% of them were in the chronic stage. 47.6% of the dentists reported that they mostly evaluated or treated bruxism, 77.1% reported that they referred TMD patients to maxillofacial surgeons, and 22.9% reported that they referred them to physiotherapy. The rate of occlusal splint/guard use in the treatment of these patients was found to be higher in dentists who took TMD courses (p<0.05). The rate of referring patients to maxillofacial surgeons was found to be lower in dentists who took the course (p<0.05). 42.9% of the dentists reported that they did not know the benefits of physiotherapy and 72.1% reported that they were more likely to refer patients to physiotherapy after this study. Conclusion: This study showed that dentists in Adana mostly encounter chronic TMDs a ssociated with bruxism in the clinic, prefer occlusal splints/guards in the treatment of TMD, and refer these patients to maxillofacial surgeons instead of conservative first-line treatment applications such as physiotherapy due to lack of awareness.

MANN Whitney U Test; TEMPOROMANDIBULAR disorders; CONSERVATIVE treatment; STATISTICAL hypothesis testing; MEDICAL referrals

Selcuk Dental Journal, 2024, Vol 11, Issue 3, p287

2148-7529

Academic Journal

10.15311/selcukdentj.1510821