[A study of active induction of orthodontic therapy in TMJ dysfunction syndrome--from the data of patients with TMJ dysfunction in adolescents].

It seems that active orthodontic therapy using multi-bracket appliances presents effective assurance of a physiological stable occlusion for TMJ dysfunction syndrome in adolescents. The efficiency and problems concerning the progress of active orthodontic therapy after splint therapy were examined from the data of the change of occlusal conditions, and the function of masticatory muscles before and after therapy for TMJ dysfunction from four cases for which we performed orthodontic therapy activity. 1. All of the occurring symptoms of the TMJ dysfunction syndrome (limitation, pain, sound) in the progress of orthodontic therapy were concerned with using intermaxillary elastic. The symptom which occurred in process of using only intra-maxillary elastic was just a malaise of the TMJ. Also the sound of the TMJ relapsed in the process of using class III intermaxillary elastic and recurred after the multi-bracket appliance was removed. In this case, the condylar vertical position after orthodontic therapy changed from the lower position to the center position compared with the first visit. 2. Malocclusion was improved with orthodontic therapy in all four patients. 3. The function of the masticatory muscles after orthodontic therapy was improved in comparison with the first visit by evaluation of the masticatory muscles activity and the state of silent period.