Differences in occlusion and some functional variables in adolescents with intact and restored dentitions. A comparative study.

A group of 96 individuals 13 to 15 years of age, with intact teeth, was compared with a control group of 129 individuals with dental restorations, with regard to reported symptoms and functional recordings of the stomatognathic system. Differences between the groups were established, with higher scores in the dentally treated group with regard to the occurrence of headache, distance between the retruded contact position (RCP) and the intercuspal contact position (ICP), lateral slide between RCP and ICP more than or equal to 0.5 mm, and attrition recorded as dentin facets in the lower first molars. The prevalence of different malocclusions was very similar in the groups, and there were practically no sex differences. The findings are not contradictory to the hypothesis that fillings may be related to mandibular dysfunction, but more studies are necessary to explain fully the mechanisms involved.