[Evaluation of temporo-mandibular myoarthropathies, the status of the masticatory system and patients' personality based on the tests and clinical studies].

Resorting to commonly applied methods and clinical indices, the masticatory organ state was evaluated in 64 patients with symptoms of myoarthropathy (studied group)) and in 61 patients without the symptoms of the disease (control group). The assumption laid down in the work was that the studied group and the control one do differ with regard to the incidence rate and the intensity of the investigated local parameters and the level of neuroticism as well as extraversion. The aim of the paper was to show the mutual correlation between the parameters studied, and to determine their effect on the inception of the temporal jaw dysfunction. It has been revealed that the advancement of age is accompanied by statistically significant increase in the incidence rate and intensity of local diseases as well as by malfunctions, a rise in the level of neuroticism and a drop of the extraversion level. In consequence of the former findings, severe forms of dysfunction of the mandibular articulation arose in 89% of patients within the highest age group. Comparing the parameters between the studied group and the controls provided the possibility to isolate the features that make the both groups differ, thus facilitating the determination of the influence the individual factors exert on the origination of dysfunction of the mandibular articulation. The most essential differences affected five factors: unilateral mode of mastication, parafunction, teeth deficit, abnormal occlusion and high neuroticism. The lack of statistically significant differences between the studied and control groups with respect to periodontal diseases, looseness of teeth, dental abrasion do not authorize us to exclude their influence on the formation of temporal jaw myoarthropathy, since these factors are responsible for the loss of teeth, occlusal articulation disorders, and in an indirect way they, undoubtedly, exert destructive influence on the organ of mastication.