Prevalence study of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder in Brazilian college students.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in Brazilian college students. A questionnaire was administered to 2,396 students. Seventy-three percent of women (mean age 21.94 +/- 5 years) and 27% of men (mean age 22.41 +/- 4.8 years) answered the questionnaire. The anamnestic index was used to classify the volunteers according to TMD severity degree. The results showed a higher percentage of men without TMD (43.74%) (p < 0.05, Chi-square test). The women exhibited some degree of severity (73.03%) at a higher frequency than men (56.26%). No significant differences were observed between sexes for a same TMD severity degree (p > 0.05). The results indicated TMD prevalence in Brazilian college students similar to that presented in other studies found in the literature reviewed. Longitudinal studies are recommended to follow the prevalence and health care needs in this population.