Temporomandibular dysfunction in patients treated with orthodontics in combination with orthognathic surgery

Fifty-two patients with malocclusions underwent orthodontic treatment in co mbination with orthognathic surgery involving a Le Fort I and/or sagittal s plit osteotomy. Approximately 5 years after surgery, the patients were exam ined for signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The frequ encies were found to be low in comparison with epidemiological studies in t his field. The aesthetic outcome and chewing ability were improved in most patients (about 80 per cent). Some of the patients had reported recurrent a nd daily headaches before treatment. At examination, only two patients had reported having a headache once or twice a week, while all the others suffe red from headaches less often or had no headache at all. Eighty-three per c ent of the patients reported that they would be prepared to undergo the ort hodontic/surgical treatment again with their present knowledge of the proce dure. This study shows that orthodontic/surgical treatment of malocclusions not o nly has a beneficial effect on the aesthetic appearence and chewing ability , but also results in an improvement in signs and symptoms of TMD, includin g headaches.