A cross-sectional and longitudinal study of craniomandibular dysfunction in an elderly population.

Three cohorts of subjects in their 70s (born in 1901 to 1902, 1906 to 1907, and 1911 to 1912; n = 1,065) were investigated by means of questionnaires and clinical examination. The first cohort was followed to age 83 and the others to age 75. Symptoms of craniomandibular dysfunction were reported less frequently with increasing age. This was especially marked in men. Clinical signs of severe dysfunction were rare, and according to the Helkimo classification they tended to decrease with increasing age. The longitudinal results mainly confirmed the cross-sectional data. The results indicated that there is no increased risk of craniomandibular dysfunction with aging. On the contrary, awareness of such symptoms tended to decrease with aging.