A study of temporomandibular joint sounds; Part 1. Relationship with articular disc displacements.

The relationship between complaints about temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds and the prevalence of disc displacements was studied. The rate of incidence of TMJ sounds was 42% in the 50 subjects investigated. In the subjects with TMJ sounds, 19% were diagnosed as having articular disc displacements. In the 58% sound-free subjects, 14% were found to have disc displacements. Therefore, it seems that patients with TMJ sounds do not always have disc displacements, and that a sound-free state does not necessarily indicate a healthy TMJ.