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Published on: February 5, 2019
Mandibular function, temporomandibular disorders, and headache in prematurely born children
Liselotte Paulsson1, Ewacarin Ekberg, Maria Nilner
1Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden. liselotte.paulsson@mah.se
Insights
Preterm children aged 8-10 showed no significant differences in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) diagnoses or headaches compared to full-term peers. Mandibular function differences were minimal after adjusting for physical measurements.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric dentistry
- Craniofacial development
- Neonatal follow-up studies
Background:
- Premature birth can impact neurodevelopment and physical growth.
- Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and headaches are common in children.
- Long-term effects of extreme prematurity on craniofacial structures require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and headache prevalence in 8- to 10-year-old extremely and very preterm children.
- To compare mandibular function, TMD signs/symptoms, and headache between preterm and matched full-term born children.
- To identify potential developmental impacts of prematurity on the masticatory system.
Main Methods:
- Study included 73 preterm children (36 extremely preterm <29 weeks, 37 very preterm 29-32 weeks) and 41 matched full-term controls.
- Data collected via questionnaires for subjective symptoms and clinical assessments for mandibular function, TMD signs, and headache.
- Diagnoses of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) were established using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for temporomandibular disorders (RDC/TMD).
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences were observed in TMD diagnoses or headache prevalence between preterm and full-term groups.
- Preterm children exhibited reduced mandibular movement capacity compared to controls.
- After adjusting for weight, height, and head circumference, most differences in mandibular function between groups were negligible.
Conclusions:
- Prematurely born children aged 8-10 do not present with increased diagnoses, signs, or symptoms of TMD or headache compared to full-term peers.
- While some initial differences in mandibular function exist, they appear to be related to overall physical growth rather than prematurity itself.
- The findings suggest that prematurity does not significantly predispose children to TMD or headaches by this age.
Objective:
To evaluate mandibular function, signs, and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and headache in prematurely born 8- to 10-year-old children, and to compare the findings with matched full-term born controls.
Material And Methods:
Seventy-three preterm children were selected from the Medical Birth Register--one group comprising 36 extremely preterm children born before the 29th gestational week, the other group 37 very preterm children born during gestational weeks 29 to 32. The preterm children were compared with a control group of 41 full-term children matched for gender, age, nationality, and living area. The subjective symptoms of TMD and headache were registered using a questionnaire. Mandibular function, signs, and symptoms of TMD and headache were registered. TMD diagnoses were set per Research Diagnostic Criteria for temporomandibular disorders (RDC/TMD).
Results:
No significant differences between groups or gender were found for TMD diagnoses according to RDC/TMD or for headache. The preterm children had smaller mandibular movement capacity than the full-term control group, but when adjusting for weight, height, and head circumference mostly all group differences disappeared.
Conclusions:
Prematurely born children of 8 to 10 years of age did not differ from full-term born children when considering diagnoses according to RDC/TMD, signs, and symptoms of TMD or headache.
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