Correlation between facial types and muscle TMD in women: an anthropometric approach

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) affecting the articular disc and/or the facial muscles are common among the population, recording a higher incidence in women age 20-40 years. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between facial types and muscle TMD in women. This study comprised 56 women age 18 to 49 years, seeking treatment for TMD at the School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo. All of the study individuals were diagnosed with muscle TMD, based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC). Facial type was determined using the Facial Brugsch Index and classified as euryprosopic (short and/or broad), mesoprosopic (average width) and leptoprosopic (long and/or narrow). The data were submitted to the Chi-square test and ANOVA-Tukey's test to conduct the statistical analysis. The faces of 27 individuals were classified as euryprosopic (48%), 18 as mesoprosopic (32%), and 11 as leptoprosopic (20%). A statistically significant difference (Chi-square, p = 0.032) was found among the facial types, in that leptoprosopic facial types showed the lowest values for muscle TMD. A greater number (p = 0.0007) of cases of muscle TMD were observed in the 20 to 39 year-old subjects than in the subjects of other age segments. In conclusion, women with euryprosopic facial types could be more susceptible to muscle TMD. Further studies are needed to investigate this hypothesis.

Relationship between myofascial pain and facial types: an observational study

“…The literature pointed that individuals with closed or low angles (euryprosopic) tend to apply more force during tightening and chewing, which may influence craniofacial morphology, agreeing with Nebbe et al [17] and Ingervall and Thilander [18], and disagreeing with Stringert and Worms [19], who observed in their studies a higher prevalence of myofascial pain in hyperdivergent individuals (leptoprosopic) when compared to hypodivergent individuals (euryprosopic). The present study observed a higher prevalence of myofascial pain in young adults, coinciding with the period when the individual's functional activities are more intense and psychological factors (stress, anxiety and depression) are more present, agreeing with other studies such as Bove et al [20], Araujo [21], and Tosato and Caria [22]. It was also found that the average age of the individuals surveyed was 31 years, similar to the literature [23].…”

“…TMD has been related to facial type [4][5][6][7]. There are three distinct facial types (euryprosopic, mesoprosopic, and leptoprosopic) and their variations (brachyfacial and dolichofacial).…”

“…There are three distinct facial types (euryprosopic, mesoprosopic, and leptoprosopic) and their variations (brachyfacial and dolichofacial). Individuals with a long facial type (leptoprosopic) usually have less chewing strength than those with a mesoprosopic type [6].…”

Diagnostic of Temporomandibular Disorders and Other Facial Pain Conditions—Narrative Review and Personal Experience

“…Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are dysfunctions of masticatory muscles and temporomandibular joints (TMJ), responsible for the dynamic movements of the mandible. The etiology of this dysfunction is complex although usually attributed to excessive parafunctional activity and abnormal strain within the stomatognathic system [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. According to literature data and our own experience, the prevalence of TMD has increased significantly in recent years.…”