Assessment of mouth opening limitation in myogenic temporomandibular disorder patients

Abstract

This research was to evaluate a new assessment of mouthopening limitation in myogenic temporomandibular disorder(TMD) patients. The suggested assessment was accomplishedby calculating the opening ratio (OR) which depends onthe ratio between maximum comfortable mouth opening andmaximum assisted mouth opening.There was a remarked significant difference in the ORbetween the TMD patients and control groups. There was nosignificant relationship between OR with age or sex in bothgroups. A significant reversible correlation between OR withnumber of tender muscles and temporomandibular joint tendernesswas found.It could be concluded from this research that the OR hasdiagnostic value in TMD patients, but unlike other measures,as it independent on age and gender.