Occlusal contact in children with Temporomandibular Disorders. A pilot study.

AIM

The aim of the present study was to perform a comparative analysis of occlusal contact points in children with and without signs and symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD).

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study. One hundred fifty children between 6 and 14 years of age were evaluated using the Helkimo questionnaire and a clinical exam. The occlusal contact points in each child were recorded during maximal intercuspation with the aid of carbon strips. Digital photographs were taken of the upper and lower arches before and after recording the occlusal contacts. The number of contact points between sides were compared and recorded on individual charts (occlusograms).

STATISTICS

Student's t-test and Pearson's chi-square test were used for the statistical analysis, with the level of significance set at 0.05, which revealed no statistically significant differences between genders. The Student's t-test revealed a statistically significant difference in the mean number of occlusal contact points between the participants with and without TMD, with a higher number of contact points among those without TMD. There was no significant difference between sides. RESULTS The results of this study show a difference in the number of occlusal contact points in centric occlusion between children with and without TMD. CONCLUSION Regardless of the degree of severity, the number of occlusal contact points is lower among children with TMD.