Prevalence of dental occlusal variables and intraarticular temporomandibular disorders: Molar relationship, lateral guidance, and nonworking side contacts

Statement of problem. The association between dental occlusion and the deve lopment of intraarticular temporomandibular disorders remains unclear. Purpose. This study evaluated the prevalence of molar relationship, lateral guidance and nonworking side contacts and intraarticular temporomandibular disorders. Material and methods. Eighty-two asymptomatic volunteers and 263 symptomati c temporomandibular disorder (TIMD) patients completed a subjective questio nnaire that documented the absence of jaw pain, joint noise, locking, and a positive history for TMD. Participants also underwent clinical and dental examination for signs and symptoms commonly associated with TMD or internal derangements. Results. The most prevalent molar relationship was Class I. Symptomatic pat ients had a higher prevalence of Class II, Division 1 relationships on the left side compared with the asymptomatic volunteers with normal joints. The re was a higher prevalence of canine guidance (52.04%; P<.005) on the right side in the symptomatic patients with disk displacement (DD). Volunteers w ith normal joints had a higher prevalence of 1 or more nonworking side cont acts compared with symptomatic patients with normal joints (P<.001) and sym ptomatic patients with DD (P<.001). Conclusion. This study suggests there are no systematic dental occlusal dif ferences that clearly separate symptomatic from asymptomatic patients. Resu lts indicate that it is unclear as to the relationship of the 3 analyzed fa ctors and of intraarticular TMDs.