Sensitivity and specificity of different indexes used to diagnose Temporomandibular Disorders

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14295/bds.2018.v21i4.1614

Abstract

Objective: To verify the level of agreement among different indexes used to achieve the prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD). Material and Methods: One hundred one dental students were selected by a randomized process. TMD were evaluated by the Fonseca’s Anamnestic Index (FAI), Helkimo’s Clinical Index (HCI), and the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD). Data was analyzed using Chi-square and Kappa tests, considering a significance level of 5%. Results: HCI showed the highest prevalence of TMD, and the comparison between RDC/TMD, FAI, and HCI showed low agreement (k=0.17 and k=0.35 respectively). Most individuals presented mild TMD for both FAI and HCI indexes. A moderate correlation for TMD severity was obtained (kw=0.53) between FAI and HCI, and a high sensitivity and low specificity were observed for both diagnosis when compared to RDC/TMD. Conclusion: The prevalence of TMD may vary significantly depending on the index used for its diagnosis, which may lead to a large number of false positives and overtreatments.

 

Keywords: Epidemiology; Prevalence; Temporomandibular joint; Temporomandibular joint disorders; Young adult.

Author Biographies

Isabelle Sousa Dantas, Department of Dentistry – Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte – Natal – RN – Brazil.

Department of Dentistry

Jairo Matozinho Cordeiro, Department of Prosthesis and Periodontology – Piracicaba Dental School – State University of Campinas – Piracicaba – SP – Brazil.

Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology

Mariana Barbosa Câmara-Souza, Department of Prosthesis and Periodontology – Piracicaba Dental School – State University of Campinas – Piracicaba – SP – Brazil.

Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology

Camila Maria Bastos Machado de Resende, Department of Dentistry – Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte – Natal – RN – Brazil.

Department of Dentistry

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli da Costa Oliveira, Department of Dentistry – Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte – Natal – RN – Brazil.

Department of Dentistry

Gustavo Augusto Seabra Barbosa, Department of Dentistry – Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte – Natal – RN – Brazil.

Department od Dentistry

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Published

2018-10-24

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Section

Clinical or Laboratorial Research Manuscript