Evaluation of Symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders in Orthodontic Appliance Users

Abstract

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) are multifactorial pathological conditions that can generate significant impacts on quality of life of individuals. Orthodontics treatments have been discussed in the current literature due to its possible association with the development of TMD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the use of fixed orthodontic appliances and the symptoms of TMD. This cross-sectional study was performed with a sample of 336 undergraduate dental students that answered a structured questionnaire about symptoms of TMD. The sample was paired for sex and use of fixed orthodontic appliances. The results highlighted that the most prevalent symptoms of TMD were headaches (21.4 %, n=72), temporomandibular joint noises (21.4 %, n=72) and head and/or neck pain (20.0 %, n=67). The most of sample, 60.4 % (n=203), showed mild TMD symptomatology. No statistical association was observed between the use of orthodontic appliances and TMD symptoms (p=0.121). It can be suggested that the use of fixed orthodontic appliances is not a factor associated with the symptoms of TMD. Still, it is possible to conclude that the prevalence of light TMD symptoms in dentistry students is high.