Perbedaan Besar Pembukaan Mulut Maksimal Berdasarkan Usia, Jenis Kelamin, dan Indeks Massa Tubuh di Kelurahan Tanjung Rejo Kecamatan Medan Sunggal

Abstract

Maximum mouth opening is a crucial parameter in diagnosing and evaluating the function of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and masticatory muscles. Aim: to analyze the differences in maximum mouth opening based on age, gender, and Body Mass Index (BMI) among the residents of Tanjung Rejo Village, Medan Sunggal District. Methods: an observational analytic study with a cross-sectional design was conducted involving 180 participants (90 males and 90 females) grouped into the age categories of 20–30, 31–40, 41–50, 51–60, and 61–70 years. Participants were selected using simple random sampling and purposive sampling methods. Maximum mouth opening was measured using a therabite device, while BMI was calculated from weight and height data. Data analysis was performed using an independent t-test, Oneway anova, and Pearson correlation with a significance level of p<0.05. Results: the findings showed that males had significantly greater maximum mouth opening (45.59 ± 5.852 mm) compared to females (42.37 ± 5.832 mm, p<0.05). Maximum mouth opening increased from the 20–30 year age group to the 31–40 year group but decreased in older age groups (p=0.000). Significant differences were observed between normal and obese BMI categories (p<0.05), but no significant differences were found between underweight and overweight categories (p>0.05). A weak yet significant positive correlation was found between body weight, height, and maximum mouth opening (p<0.05). Conclusion: maximum mouth opening is influenced by age, gender, and BMI. This study serves as a reference for diagnosing TMJ disorders and as preliminary data for further research.