Pediatric Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Abstract

Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com J Dent Health Oral Disord Ther 2015, 2(3): 00047 precise etiology. The etiology of TMD in children has been related to trauma, malocclusion, and oral Para-functions habits such as bruxism, nail biting, and non-nutritive sucking. However, the relationship between oral Para-functional habits and TMD, if it exists, seems to be controversial and unclear. Falls, sports-related injuries, and road traffic accidents are the most frequent causes of facial injuries in children which can affects the TMJ. Moreover: Early TMD is a common feature especially in girls at the beginning of puberty. The etiology is not clear but it can be considered caused by factors, such as hyper mobility and hormone influence. Fracture of the condyle is often followed by remodeling and a disturbance in the development of ramus height and mandibular body length, ankylosis of the TMJ, growth disturbances can be seen in most cases and can be severe. Bruxism (Greek: Bruko, “gnashing of teeth”) the main cause of pediatric TMD widely defined as an anxiety response to environmental stress. Clinically, bruxism characterized by presence of abnormal movements and clenching which can lead to tooth grinding, attrition. According to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, the bruxism is a movement disturb related to sleep, characterized by repeated contractions of the masticatory muscles, resulting in grinding or clenching of the teeth. Wide range of muscles can be affected by bruxism. These groups of muscles include muscles of mastication (primary muscles) and muscles of the craniofacial complex, shoulders and neck (secondary muscles). These groups of muscles have anatomical and neural links. Neural link through trigeminalcervical complex, which is formed by the upper cervical and trigeminal nerves. And anatomical link, through the axes for the eccentric mandibular movements and the cervical column which concur in the occiput. The mandibular position can influence the activity of the muscles of the craniofacial complex, shoulders and neck through these two links. If the masticatory system, neck and shoulders are anatomically and physiologically connected, then the bruxism can easily affects all the above described structures.