Facial pain complaints in the elderly

Abstract

The incidence of facial pain and mandibular dysfunction was studied in a population of elderly, middle-class Americans (median age, 71 years) using a self-report questionnaire. The questionnaire was mailed to 839 volunteer subjects of both sexes; responses were obtained from 562 (67%) individuals. Results showed that 536 respondents (95.4%) were free of facial pain and that only 25 (4.4%) had temporomandibular joint pain. Joint sounds and teeth clenching and grinding were associated with facial pain in 50% of those who reported this combination.