SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDER (TMD) AND CRANIOFACIAL FORM

Signs and symptoms attributed to temporomandibular disorder (TMD) were registered in 170 persons at an average age of 12.5 years. One hundre d and ten were reexamined at an average age of 26.4 years. Craniofacia l form was defined on standardized lateral cephalograms, taken at the time points mentioned, by 22 linear and 8 angular measurements. The sy mptoms, clicking and pain, never appeared to be associated with cranio facial form. The signs, clicking and crepitation, in children did not appear to be associated with craniofacial form either. However, adults with signs were characterized by horizontal facial deficiencies. Adul ts with clicking joints had a saggitally shorter maxilla and mandibula r diagnonal, whereas adults with crepitating joints had, in addition, a shorter anterior and posterior cranial base and pharynx. This sagitt al ''shortness'' could already be demonstrated for many of the reporte d dimensions at the corresponding cephalograms taken about the age of 12.5 years, and did not appear to have changed much over time. It is c oncluded that the reported TMD signs in adults were associated with a sagittal shorter midface. Part of the typical structure associated wit h signs antedated the actual detection of these signs by 14 years. Thi s implies that not all TMD signs in adults can be regarded as the excl usive result of some etiologic factor operating after the teenage peri od. This finding of an association cannot be interpreted as a causal r elationship.