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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Measuring Maxillary Posterior Tooth Movement: A Model Assessment using Palatal and Dental Superimposition
Published on: February 23, 2024
Unilateral posterior crossbite is not associated with TMJ clicking in young adolescents
M Farella1, A Michelotti, G Iodice
1School of Dentistry, Department of Oral, Dental and Maxillo-Facial Sciences, Section of Orthodontics and Clinical Gnathology, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Pansini, 5, I-80131, Naples, Italy. farella@unina.it
Abstract:
Unilateral posterior crossbite has been considered as a risk factor for temporomandibular joint clicking, with conflicting findings. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible association between unilateral posterior crossbite and temporomandibular disk displacement with reduction, by means of a survey carried out in young adolescents recruited from three schools. The sample included 1291 participants (708 males and 583 females) with a mean age of 12.3 yrs (range, 10.1-16.1 yrs), who underwent an orthodontic and functional examination performed by two independent examiners. Unilateral posterior crossbite was found in 157 participants (12.2%). Fifty-three participants (4.1%) were diagnosed as having disk displacement with reduction. Logistic regression analysis failed to reveal a significant association between unilateral posterior crossbite and disk displacement with reduction (odds ratio = 1.3; confidence limits = 0.6-2.9). Posterior unilateral crossbite does not appear to be a risk factor for temporomandibular joint clicking, at least in young adolescents.
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