Prevalence of TMJ disorders among students and its relation to malocclusion

Introduction: The main object of this study was to find out the correlation between types of malocclusion and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders among students.Materials and methods: This study was descriptive and cross-sectional in which ۴۲۵ persons were examined. From this number, ۳۰۸ persons were male, and ۱۱۷ were female. All samples were students of Mashhad University of Medical and Dental Sciences. The range in age was ۱۹ to ۳۲ years with a mean of ۲۶.۱ years. Samples were selected randomly. SPSS soft ware was used and statistic evaluation was done.Results: The correlation between malocclusion and TMJ discomfort at a level of ?=۰.۰۵ was not signifi-cant. The highest level of correlation existed between TMDs and CI II malocclusion. The rate of TMJ dis-comfort in various types of malocclusion was respectively as follow: CI II>CI I>CI III. The correlation between TMJ discomfort and head, neck and back pain was meaningful (P=۰.۰۲۹۸). The rate of women with TMJ discomfort to men was ۱.۶: ۱. Most patients with TMJ discomfort complained of joint noises and a small number of them remarked symptoms such as pain, jaw opening limitation, and other symptoms of the disorder. Joint noises were mainly in the form of clicking. TMJ discomfort accompanied by gastric dis-order (generally speaking) was meaningful (P=۰.۰۲۱۴).Conclusion: From this study it was concluded that there was no significant correlation between maloc-clusion and TMJ discomfort at a level of α=۰.۰۵ among students. The highest level of correlation, which still was not statistically significant, existed between TMDs and CI II malocclusion. The correlation between TMJ discomfort and head, neck and back pain was significant. It is suggested that specific studies be done to clear out the exact relation between gastric disorder and TMJ discomfort.

Keywords:

TMDs , TMJ disorder , Malocclusion