Signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in 19-year-old individuals who have undergone orthodontic treatment.

Fifty-five per cent of the 1554 19-year old subjects in Halmstad, Sweden, b orn in 1975, have received orthodontic treatment. Among these, 520 have bee n treated by specialists (specialist group) and 340 by general practitioner s after consultation with specialists (consultation group). The aims were t o study the prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in these two groups on a long-term basis, to identify any possible d ifference between the groups, and to compare the results with those from a previously presented epidemiological study (control group). From the popula tion of orthodontically treated subjects, a sample was randomly selected to represent the two groups, and 260 subjects agreed to attend for investigat ion, the participation rate being 77%. The investigation consisted of a que stionnaire and clinical examination focusing on function and dysfunction of the masticatory system. Severe signs and symptoms of TMD were rare, the pr evalence did not differ significantly between the two orthodontic groups, a nd the results were similar in the control group. The prevalence of several signs and symptoms was more common in females than in males. No significan t correlation between TMD signs and symptoms and occlusal contact recording s was found. It was concluded that the vast majority of the 19-year old ind ividuals who had undergone orthodontic treatment had well-functioning masti catory systems, and severe signs and symptoms of TMD were rare.