Impact of overbite on indicators of temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Epidemiological studies have suggested that deep overbite is associated with symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). This finding was directly tested by deliberately constituted groups of deep and normal overbite subjects matched for age and sex. Eighty-one subjects participated. Dependent measures included the TMJ Scale test; measures of muscle activity in the right and left frontalis, temporalis, and masseter muscles; and pressure threshold meter readings for the same sites. The results showed no differences between deep and normal overbite subjects for all the dependent measures studied. The role of overbite alone in producing TMD symptoms is questioned.