Signs Of Temporomandibular Disorders Research Articles

The Effect of Photobiomodulation on Temporomandibular Pain and Functions in Patients With Temporomandibular Disorders: An Updated Systematic Review of the Current Randomized Controlled Trials.

Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are the most prevalent non-dental origin orofacial pain conditions affecting the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) and/or orofacial muscles. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is a conservative way to improve function and reduce symptoms in TMD patients. This systematic review was conducted to update evidence about the effects of PBMT on pain intensity, TMJ movements, electromyography (EMG) activity, pressure pain threshold (PPT), and TMJ sound in patients with TMDs. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in Web of Science, PubMed/Medline, and Scopus databases using appropriate keywords and specific strategies from January 2000 to September 2022. Data extraction was done based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Results: A total of 40 studies were included. All included studies except one provided information on pain intensity; 27 studies showed a reduction in pain intensity in PBMT groups compared to control groups. Seven out of 15 studies, which reported maximum mouth opening (MMO), showed a greater MMO in PBMT groups than in placebo groups. In addition, the figures for passive maximum mouth opening (PMMO) and active maximum mouth opening (AMMO) in all the studies reporting PMMO and AMMO were higher in PBMT groups. In eight out of ten studies, lateral movement (LM) was greater in PBMT groups. Moreover, in three studies out of four, protrusive movement (PM) was reported to be greater in the PBMT group. Four out of nine studies showed a greater PPT in the PBMT group. Reduced TMJ sounds in the PBMT group were reported in two out of five studies. In addition, in most studies, no difference in EMG activity was detected between the two groups. Conclusion: This updated systematic review showed the promising effects of PBMT on the alleviation of pain and improvement in MMO. Using the infrared diode laser with a wavelength ranging between 780-980 nm, an energy density of<100 J/ cm2, and an output power of≤500 mW for at least six sessions of treatment seems to be a promising option for treating mentioned TMDs signs and symptoms based on the previously reported findings.

The relation of temporomandibular disorders with oral health-related quality of life in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to evaluate the association between temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in an adult population. Methods The data included 1,768 adults 46 years of age in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966) study. The symptoms, signs and diagnoses of TMD were assessed using a modified protocol of the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC/TMD) and validated questionnaires. OHRQoL was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Associations of TMD and OHRQoL were evaluated with χ2 -test and Fisher’s exact test. Results In females, pain-related TMD signs and diagnoses associated significantly with prevalence of OHIP total and all dimensions, whereas in joint-related TMD, psychological dimensions showed the strongest association. Males with pain- or joint-related TMD, the most impaired dimension was physical pain. Conclusion Pain-related TMD seems to associate more strongly with lower OHRQoL than joint-related TMD especially in females.

Effectiveness of Physical Therapy Interventions for Temporomandibular Disorders Associated with Tinnitus: A Systematic Review.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) refers to different clinical conditions affecting the temporomandibular joints, masticatory muscles, and adjacent structures. Although TMDs signs and symptoms (e.g., pain and limited mouth opening) are common, otological symptoms, such as tinnitus, might also be present. This study aims to summarize the evidence of the effectiveness of physical therapy interventions in individuals with TMDs associated with tinnitus. Randomized controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of physical therapy in individuals of both genders aged 18 or older with TMDs associated with tinnitus were included. The electronic search was performed in the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro and CENTRAL. A total of four studies were included. All studies showed that physical therapy reduced the intensity of tinnitus, and two trials showed a decrease in the pain intensity caused by TMDs, an increase in the pressure pain thresholds in the masticatory muscles and an improvement of mandibular function. Two studies presented a low risk of bias. Despite a low certainty of the evidence, this review showed that physical therapy reduces the intensity or severity of tinnitus associated with TMDs. Results may support future research on the topic and evidence-based practice by recommending the best physical therapy approach for patients, clinicians, researchers, and health system managers.

Post-traumatic stress, prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in war veterans: Systematic review with meta-analysis.

The physical and psychological effects of war are not always easy to detect, but they can be far-reaching and long-lasting. One of the physical effects that may result from war stress is temporomandibular disorder (TMD). To evaluate the prevalence of TMD sign and symptoms among war veterans diagnosed with PTSD. We systematically searched in Web of Science, PubMed and Lilacs for articles published from the inception until 30 December 2022. All documents were assessed for eligibility based on the following Population, Exposure, Comparator and Outcomes (PECO) model: (P) Participants consisted of human subjects. (E) The Exposure consisted of exposition to war. (C) The Comparison was between war veterans (subjects exposed to war) and subjects not exposed to war. (O) The Outcome consisted of presence of temporomandibular disorders sign or symptoms (we considered pain to muscle palpation in war veterans). Forty studies were identified at the end of the research. We chose only four study to draw up the present systematic study. The included subjects were 596. Among them, 274 were exposed to war, whereas the remaining 322 were not exposed to war stress. Among those exposed to war, 154 presented sign/symptoms of TMD (56.2%) whereas only 65 of those not exposed to war (20.18%). The overall effect revealed that subjects exposed to war and diagnosed with PTSD had a higher prevalence of TMD signs (pain at muscle palpation) than controls (RR 2.21; 95% CI: 1.13-4.34), showing an association PTSD war-related and TMD. War can cause lasting physical and psychological damage that can lead to chronic diseases. Our results clearly demonstrated that war exposure, directly or indirectly, increases the risk of developing TMJ dysfunction and TMD sign/symptoms.

Protective masks during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: Any relationship with temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain?

Wearing protective face masks has been one of the indispensable measures to prevent droplets and aerosol particles transmission during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This observational cross-sectional survey investigated the different types and modalities of protective mask wearing and the possible association with referred signs of temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain by respondents. An online-questionnaire was developed, calibrated and administered anonymously to subjects with an age of ≥ 18 years. It consisted of different sections: demographics, type and wearing modalities of the protective masks, pain in the preauricular area, noise at the temporomandibular joints and headache. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical software STATA v16. The questionnaire received 665 replies mainly from participants aged 18-30 years (315 males, 350 females). The healthcare professionals were 37% of participants, 21.2% of them were dentists. The Filtering Facepiece 2 or 3 (FFP2/FFP3) mask was used by 334 subjects (50.3%), and 578 (87%) wore the mask with two elastics behind the ears. Pain while wearing the mask was referred by 400 participants, and 36.8% of them referred pain with a consecutive use of more than 4 hours (p = 0.042). 92.2% of participants did not report any TMJ noise. Headache associated with the FFP2/FFP3 was referred by 57.7% of subjects (p = 0.033). This survey highlighted the increased referred the presence of discomfort in the preauricular area and headache possibly associated with a prolonged use of protective face masks for more than 4 hours during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Temporomandibular joint involvement in psoriatic arthritis: a prospective clinical and ultrasonographic study.

To evaluate the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in a monocentric cohort of patients affected by psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and to investigate the accuracy of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ultrasound (US) compared with clinical evaluation and clinimetric composite index in assessing TMJ involvement. We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with PsA who underwent at least one TMJ US examination and maxillofacial surgeon's evaluation between 2018 and 2021. The rheumatology physician's interpretation of each TMJ US exam (presence/absence of TMD) was compared with psoriatic arthritis disease activity indexes and maxillofacial surgeon's clinical judgement (presence/absence of TMD signs and/or symptoms). 142 psoriatic arthritis patients were included. 111 patients were totally asymptomatic for TMD, but 58.5% of them already showed TMJ US changes; moreover, 103 patients passed the maxillofacial surgeon's examination in the absence of any relevant findings but again, of these, 55.3% already presented US signs of TMD. Univariate analysis of subgroups with and without TMJ synovitis and with and without active power Doppler signal showed a significant prevalence of peripheral enthesitic involvement in patients affected by TMD (95.7% vs. 4.3%, p=0.001; and 72.2% vs. 27.3%, p=0.007, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed the results (p=0.01 and p=0.013, respectively). Peripheral enthesitic involvement may represent a potential risk factor for the development of TMJ synovitis in PsA patients. Since TMD often develops asymptomatically, TMJ US may detect early signs of TMD, ensuring precocious and adequate management.

The difference in signs of temporomandibular joint disorders between Airforce Pilot Corps, Paskhas Corps, and Supporting Corps in Indonesian Airforce

Objective: This study aims to analyze the difference in signs of TMJ disorders in Indonesian Air Force soldiers. Material and Methods: This was a cross sectional study. The research subjects were 39 Indonesian Air Force soldiers who were underwent periodic health check up at Lakespra Dr. Saryanto Jakarta who had met the inclusion and exclusion criteria.. The data obtained were tested with one way Anova, Kruskal Wallis and Mann Whitney test by SPSS. Results: The three groups had signs of TMJ disorders in different proportions. The Paskhas Corps had the highest percentage of abnormalities in the examination of muscle palpation, TMJ palpation, and TMJ auscultation of 23%, 23%, and 53.85%, respectively. Meanwhile, the Airforce Pilot had the most abnormalities in mandibular movement, about 92%. The results of statistical tests showed that there were significant differences in the TMJ auscultation examination in the three groups, but not on other examinations. Conclusion: Exercises and heavy physical loads in the Paskhas Corps can affect the masticatory muscles and cause microtrauma in the TMJ resulting in the occurrence of TMJ symptoms is higher.

AN INNOVATIVE DEVICE FOR TMJ VIBRATION ANALYSIS

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds are an important sign of temporomandibular disorder. Vibrations of different frequencies have been linked to certain types of disorders of the TMJ. Commercially available instrumentsemployed to record the vibrations of the TMJ are expensive and impractical to purchase in a clinical setup or for educational purposes. This article describes the development of a novel, innovative and inexpensive device using a pair of accelerometers, microphones and smartphones along with a developed software for the purpose of recording and analysing the recorded data from the TMJ.

PREVALENCE OF SIGNS OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS IN HEALTHY ASYMPTOMATIC COMPLETELY EDENTULOUS INDIVIDUALS AND THE EFFECT OF DENTURE ON TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS

Background and objectives: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a multi-factorial issue characterized by signs and symptoms that eventually restrict or may impede an edentulous patient’s physiological activity. The current study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of TMD among edentulous individuals, and their association with risk factors such as gender, age, educational level, habitual Khat chewing, economical status, duration of edentulousness, the age, and vertical dimension of occlusion (OVD) of the present dentures. Materials and Methods: This study involved a thorough evaluation of 400 edentulous Yemeni patients who were undergoing prosthetic treatment at the Faculty of Dentistry Sana'a University and the University of Sciences and Technology, 114 with denture and 286 without denture. This evaluation of TMD signs and symptoms was performed using the Helkimo index. The outcomes were analyzed by correlating the research variables and the prevalence of signs and symptoms of TMD using chi-squared tests. Results: The study’s findings showed that signs and symptoms of TMD were 82.5% and 55.3% among complete denture wearers and 80.4% and 49.0% among non-denture wearers, respectively. Furthermore, the most frequent sign and symptom was the joint sounds. This study revealed a statistically significant association between the prevalence of TMD symptoms and patient gender and between TMD signs and symptoms and OVD in denture wearers. Conclusion: The current study supports the need to evaluate the potential impact of TMD on completely edentulous individuals and to take caution while receiving dental therapy and prosthetic rehabilitation. Peer Review History: Received: 6 January 2023; Revised: 11 February; Accepted: 5 March 2023, Available online: 15 March 2023 Academic Editor: Dr. DANIYAN Oluwatoyin Michael, Obafemi Awolowo University, ILE-IFE, Nigeria, toyinpharm@gmail.com Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. Alfonso Alexander Aguileral, University of Veracruz, Mexico, aalexander_2000@yahoo.com Dr. Bilge Ahsen KARA, Ankara Gazi Mustafa Kemal Hospital, Turkey, ahsndkyc@gmail.com Similar Articles: HISTOLOGIC AND RADIOGRAPHIC STUDY OF PATHOLOGIC CHANGE IN COMPLETE IMPACTED THIRD MOLARS DENTAL FOLLICLES

Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Joint Disorder: Chair-Side Routine Diagnostics (Radiography, Ultrasonography) and Mihalyi Ultrasonography Measured Splint Therapy, A Case Report

Aim: An increased prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) has been seen over the last few decades. It is a common issue worldwide considering that a significant part of orofacial pain of non-dental origin is caused by TMD [1]. The present study aims to explain which chair-side examinations can be useful for the diagnostics of the TMD caused pain and thereby an appropriate treatment can be chosen to eliminate the complaints. Methods: In addition to routine clinical examination, radiography and ultrasound imaging provides short examination time, low cost, non-invasive compared with the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). By radiograph diagnostics can anatomical deviations and serious bilateral differences be recognized. Sonography provides dynamic visualization of the soft-tissue structures of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This asymmetric splint therapy is aimed to reduce pain and stress on the joint structure and to protect the associated structures, thereby increasing the quality of life. Results: We compare the distances of the joint spaces according the ulrasonography and with the difference of these we modify the splint. After 8 weeks of individual ultrasonography measured splint therapy treatment the patient has experienced a relief of her TMD signs and symptoms. After the treatment the patiens’s symptoms decreased. Conclusion: Using ultrasonography combined with TMJ x-ray can be a good diagnostic tool. Hence, by using the Mihályi Ultrasonography Measured Splint therapy we provide an individual, non-invasive treatment for patients with temporomandibular disorders.

Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Joint Disorder: Chair-Side Routine Diagnostics (Radiography, Ultrasonography) and Mihalyi Ultrasonography Measured Splint Therapy, A Case Report

Aim: An increased prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) has been seen over the last few decades. It is a common issue worldwide considering that a significant part of orofacial pain of non-dental origin is caused by TMD [1]. The present study aims to explain which chair-side examinations can be useful for the diagnostics of the TMD caused pain and thereby an appropriate treatment can be chosen to eliminate the complaints. Methods: In addition to routine clinical examination, radiography and ultrasound imaging provides short examination time, low cost, non-invasive compared with the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). By radiograph diagnostics can anatomical deviations and serious bilateral differences be recognized. Sonography provides dynamic visualization of the soft-tissue structures of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This asymmetric splint therapy is aimed to reduce pain and stress on the joint structure and to protect the associated structures, thereby increasing the quality of life. Results: We compare the distances of the joint spaces according the ulrasonography and with the difference of these we modify the splint. After 8 weeks of individual ultrasonography measured splint therapy treatment the patient has experienced a relief of her TMD signs and symptoms. After the treatment the patiens’s symptoms decreased. Conclusion: Using ultrasonography combined with TMJ x-ray can be a good diagnostic tool. Hence, by using the Mihályi Ultrasonography Measured Splint therapy we provide an individual, non-invasive treatment for patients with temporomandibular disorders.

Orthodontic diagnosis and management of TMJ – A case report

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems can be challenging and cause a myriad of complaints.The orthodontist can play a crucial role in identification and resolution of the same. The management through orthodontic treatment aims not merely at ideal positioning of the teeth but also ensuring synchrony between the condylar position and occlusion, often helping in re-establishing the lost equilibrium of the joint and muscles, often associated with malocclusion. This case report puts forth the diagnosis and orthodontic management of TMJ aberrations, wherein silent signs are manifested in the dentition. The case report, further, aims to provide insight on bridging the gap in treating minor TMJ aberrations by treating the probable root cause – malocclusion. A 20-year-old female patient presented with attrition of the lower incisors and deflection of the mandible on maximum mouth opening, suggestive of silent signs of temporomandibular disorder. Cone-beam computed tomography evaluation revealed erosion of the condylar head bilaterally.

Updating The General Practitioner on The Association Between Teeth Loss and Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review.

The belief about a possible association between the absence of one or more teeth and the presence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), although old, is still present among the dental class. Although evidence points to a lack of association between loss of posterior support and the presence of TMD, we do not have critical studies on the extent, quantity, or location of these losses. In this sense, this systematic review aims to investigate the association between tooth loss and the presence of TMD signs or diagnostic subgroups. Search strategies using a combination of keywords tooth loss and TMDs were performed in six databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Livivo, Lilacs, and Scopus) and gray literature from August to September 2020. Observational studies that investigated the association between tooth loss in TMD were considered. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Assessment Checklist for cross-sectional analytical studies, case-control, and cohort studies. Finally, the level of certainty measured by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was assessed. Six articles were included in the review according to the eligibility criteria. Of these, five had a high risk of bias and one had a moderate risk. Only one study showed an association between the loss of posterior teeth and the presence of joint sounds and joint pain, the others found no significant association with sign or TMD subgroups diagnostic.There is no scientific evidence to support the association between one or more tooth loss and the presence of TMD signs and symptoms or diagnostic subgroups.

Association of climacterium with temporomandibular disorders at the age of 46 years – a cross-sectional study

Objective Hormonal factors have been suggested to contribute to female dominance among subjects with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Aim of the study was to examine the association of climacteric status with TMD amongst female participants in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort (NFBC) 1966 at 46 years of age. Material and Methods Among female subjects in NFBC1966, climacteric status was determined based on menstrual anamnesis and measurement of blood follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Women with FSH > 25 IU/L and amenorrhoea > 4 months were defined as climacteric (case group, n = 71); women not diagnosed as climacteric were defined as preclimacteric (control group, n = 656). Differences between cases and controls were evaluated on self-reported TMD pain, clinical TMD signs and TMD diagnoses using modified Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC/TMD) protocol. Crosstabulation and logistic regression models were used to analyse differences between cases and controls. Results Compared to preclimacteric women, climacteric women had significantly more often pain on palpation in temporomandibular joints (TMJs) (OR = 2.64, 95% CI 1.12–6.21, p= .026) and more crepitus in TMJs (OR = 2.92, 95% CI 1.13–7.56, p= .027). Degenerative joint disease diagnoses were more common in climacteric than preclimacteric women (OR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.05–4.91, p= .037). Differences were statistically significant after adjusting for confounding factors (body mass index (BMI), smoking, parity). No statistically significant differences in self-reported TMD pain were noted between groups. Conclusion Among females at the age of 46 years, climacterium seems associated with TMD by increasing pain on palpation in TMJs, subjective symptoms, and clinical signs indicating degenerative changes in TMJs when using DC/TMD.

Prevalence of temporomandibular disorders and its association with malocclusion in children: A transversal study.

This study investigated the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in a sample of children and adolescents and evaluated the correlation with occlusal variables. TMD signs and symptoms were recorded in 411 subjects (age range 7–15 years), divided into two groups: 214 subjects treated in Chieti (Italy) CG group and 197 in Murcia (Spain) MG group. Once the Angle dental class was identified, it was recorded if there were signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and occlusal interferences. The percentages of signs and symptoms were compared to determine the differences among the groups for TMDs, bruxism, joint sounds, deviation during the opening, reduced opening/lateral/protrusive movements, malocclusions, and myofascial pain. There is no statistically significant difference between the two groups (χ2 = 1.057, p > 0.05). Subjects with Angle Class I (37.37%), deep bite (43.43%), and increased overjet (41.41%) showed a higher prevalence of TMD symptoms.

Development and application of a questionnaire to evaluate signs of temporomandibular disorder observed by caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder.

This study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire to detect signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), verifying whether the perception of signs observed by caregivers of non-verbal autistic children are the same as those observed by caregivers of verbal ones. This is a cross-sectional, exploratory and analytical study. The sample consisted of forty individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), thirty non-verbal and ten verbal, besides their respective caregivers. For this, an experimental questionnaire was applied and compared to the European Academy of Orofacial Pain (EAOP) questionnaire, which is already validated and widely used throughout the world. All responses were compared using the chi-square test and the questionnaires were compared with the McNemar test, considering p<.05. When comparing the number of coincident responses to the questionnaire between caregivers and children, the mean was 8.2±1.61 responses. After performing the binomial test, no statistically significant discrepancy was found between the results of the two tests adopted when the questionnaires were compared (Mc Nemar test, p>.05) CONCLUSION: The development of this questionnaire and its validation serve as a support for health professionals in the TMD area, for the detection of TMD in non-verbal autistic children, providing them and their caregivers, who are faced with several difficulties in their day-by-day, a facilitating instrument.

Temporomandibular disorder in construction workers associated with ANKK1 and DRD2 genes.

The study aimed to explore the influence of genetic polymorphisms in ANKK1 and DRD2 on the signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) in construction workers. This cross-sectional study included only male subjects. All construction workers were healthy and over 18 years age. Illiterate workers and functionally illiterate workers were excluded. The diagnosis of TMD was established according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD). Genomic DNA was used to evaluate the genetic polymorphisms ANKK1 (rs1800497) and DRD2 (rs6275; rs6276) using Real-Time PCR. Chi-square or Fisher exact tests were used to evaluate genotypes and allele distribution among the studied phenotypes. The established alpha of this study was 5%. The sample included a total of 115 patients. The age of the patients ranged from 19 to 70 years (mean age 38.2; standard deviation 11.7). Chronic pain (87.7%), disc displacement (38.2%), and joint inflammation (26.9%) were the most frequently observed signs and symptoms. The genetic polymorphism rs6276 in DRD2 was associated with chronic pain (p=0.033). In conclusion, our study suggests that genetic polymorphisms in DRD2 and ANKK1 may influence TMD signs and symptoms in a group of male construction workers.

Temporomandibular disorders, bite force and osseous changes of the temporomandibular joints in patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome compared to a healthy control group.

BackgroundEhlers‐Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a hereditary disorder that affects the connective tissue and collagen structures in the body characterised by joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility and tissue fragility.ObjectiveThe aim was to investigate temporomandibular disorders (TMD), bite force, teeth in occlusal contact and osseous changes of the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) in 26 patients with hypermobile EDS (hEDS), differentiated by a genetic test, compared to 39 healthy controls.MethodsClinical examination according to Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD), radiological examinations of the TMJs by cone‐beam‐computed tomographic (CBCT) scans, registration of bite force and teeth in occlusal contact was performed. Statistical analyses included Fisher's Exact Test, multiple logistic and linear regression models adjusted for age, gender and Body Mass Index (BMI).ResultsSingle symptoms and signs of TMD occurred significantly more often in hEDS (p = .002; p = .001; p = .003; p = <.0001; p = .012) and maximum mouth opening was significantly smaller in hEDS compared to controls (p = <.0001). The DC/TMD diagnosis myalgia, myofascial pain with referral, arthralgia, headache attributed to TMD, disc displacement disorders and degenerative joint disease occurred significantly more often in hEDS compared to controls (p = .000; p = .008; p = .003; p = .000; p = <.0001; p = .010, respectively). No significant differences were found in bite force and in teeth in occlusal contact between the groups (p > .05). On CBCT of the TMJs, subcortical sclerosis occurred significantly more often in hEDS compared to controls (p = .005).ConclusionSymptoms and signs of TMD and osseous changes of the TMJs occurred significantly more often in hEDS. Bite force and teeth in occlusal contact were comparable to controls.

Associations between Bruxism, Stress, and Manifestations of Temporomandibular Disorder in Young Students.

Bruxism is a repetitive activity of the masticatory muscles, which determine teeth grinding or clenching, associated with rigidity, bracing, or thrusting of the mandibula. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of possible bruxism in 328 students attending the Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, and its associations with stress and other manifestations of the temporo-mandibular disorder. This was a questionnaire-based study to collect information on self-evaluation of bruxism presence, frequency of specific episodes, stress, anxiety, and other manifestations of temporo-mandibular disorder. Self-evaluated bruxism was identified in 39.33% from the entire study group, allowing us to define two subgroups for further analysis. Sleep bruxism was present in 16.28% of participants; awake bruxism was present in 68.99%, while 14.73% of participants presented a combined form. The main manifestation of bruxism was reported as teeth grinding. Fatigue was identified as a common clinical sign of bruxism and temporo-mandibular disorder. Group distribution analysis (Chi-Square) indicated significant associations between bruxism and stress, panic, restlessness, or increased stress during the COVID-19 pandemic (p < 0.05). Bruxism, and especially awake bruxism, has increased in prevalence among young students, and it has been associated with increased levels of stress.

Signs, Symptoms, and Morphological Features of Idiopathic Condylar Resorption in Orthodontic Patients: A Survey-Based Study.

Background: Idiopathic condylar resorption (ICR) is an aggressive degenerative disease of the temporomandibular joint that is most frequently observed in teenage girls. However, no specific cause of ICR has been identified. To explore the specific causes of the onset and progression of ICR, we performed a survey-based study on ICR in orthodontic patients and described its subjective symptoms, clinical signs, and condylar morphological features. Methods: A total of 1735 participants were recruited from 2193 orthodontic patients. For each participant, subjective symptoms and clinical signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) were evaluated through clinical examination and a questionnaire. Furthermore, three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) was performed to diagnose ICR. Results: Among the 1735 patients evaluated, ICR was present in two male and ten female patients. All 12 patients had maxillary protrusion and an anterior open bite. Four patients with ICR underwent orthodontic treatment. Based on CT findings, patients with ICR had significantly different condylar sizes and shapes from patients with TMDs alone. Conclusions: The coexistence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, such as sex-hormone imbalance and a history of orthodontic treatment, might lead to the onset of ICR. We suggest that growing patients suspected of having ICR should undergo CT evaluation because CT findings may precede clinical symptoms and signs.