MALOCCLUSION TRAITS AND SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS IN CHILDREN WITH SEVERE MALOCCLUSION

The present study reports the prevalence of the various traits of malo cclusion, as well as the occurrence of associations between malocclusi on, and symptoms and signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in chi ldren selected for orthodontic treatment by the new Danish procedure f or screening the child population for severe malocclusions entailing h ealth risks. The sample comprised 104 children (56 F, 48 M) aged 7-13. Malocclusion traits were recorded at the time of selection, symptoms and signs of TMD were recorded at recall. The most prevalent malocclus ion traits were distal molar occlusion (Angle Class II; 72 per cent), crowding (57 per cent), extreme maxillary overjet (37 per cent) and de ep bite (31 per cent). Agenesis or peg-shaped lateral teeth were obser ved in 14 per cent of the children. The most prevalent symptom of TMD was weekly headache (27 per cent); the most prevalent signs of TMD wer e tenderness in the anterior temporal, occipital, trapezius, and super ficial and profound masseter muscles (39-34 per cent). Seven per cent of the children were referred for TMD treatment. The Danish TMD screen ing procedure was positive in 26 per cent, while 20 per cent had sever e symptoms (Aill), and 30 per cent had moderate signs (Dill) according to Helkimo (1974). Symptoms and signs of TMD were significantly assoc iated with distal molar occlusion, extreme maxillary overjet, open bit e, unilateral crossbite, midline displacement, and errors of tooth for mation. The analysis suggests that there is a higher risk of children with severe malocclusions developing TMD. Errors of tooth formation in the form of agenesis or peg-shaped lateral teeth showed the largest n umber of associations with symptoms and signs of TMD; these associatio ns have not previously been reported in the literature.