ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CMD SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS, ORAL PARAFUNCTIONS, RACE AND SEX, IN 4-6-YEAR-OLD AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND CAUCASIAN CHILDREN

The associations between oral parafunctions, signs and symptoms of cra niomandibular disorders (CMD), race, and sex were analysed in recordin gs from 203 4-6-year-old African-American and Caucasian children. Sign ificant correlations were found between bruxism, nail biting, thumb su cking and most of the CMD signs and symptoms. There were also signific ant associations between most of the signs and symptoms and race, whil e significant association with sex was found only regarding headache, TMJ sounds and chewing pain. Significant associations were found betwe en most CMD signs and TMJ sounds supporting the view that joint sound recordings have diagnostic value. There were also significant associat ions between the pain variables recorded by questionnaire and those re corded by palpation, which indicates that reliable data can be obtaine d by interviewing children as young as five. The results of this study support the concept that oral parafunctions have a significant role i n the aetiology of CMD. The results also show that race and sex need t o be considered when analysing the possible aetiological role of oral parafunctions in CMD. Longitudinal studies, beginning with low age gro ups are needed to better determine the role of childhood oral parafunc tions in CMD aetiology.