Risk indicators of temporomandibular disorder incidences in early adolescence

Although temporomandibular disorder (TMD) has been presumed to be a condition affecting adults, studies have reported the presence of signs and symptoms in children. The purpose of this paper was to verify the influence of gender, mother's gestational behavior, malocclusion, and oral habits as risk indicators for TMD in 12-year-old adolescents.

TMD pain was assessed by research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (RDC/TMD; axis I). Five-hundred fifty-eight subjects (330 girls and 228 boys) underwent examinations. Bivariate analyses were performed using the chisquare test. The logistic regression models were adjusted estimating the odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI), and significance level.

Only 2% of boys and 7% of girls presented one of the axis I categories. Gender was significantly related to TMD diagnosis (P<.01). Menarche, however, was not associated. Malocclusion, mother's gestational behavior, and children's oral habits were not associated with incidence of TMD (P>.05). Girls were almost 4 times more affected than boys (OR=3.97; CI=1.51-10.53).

The mothers' gestational behavior and presence of menarche, malocclusion, and oral habits by their adolescents were not associated with diagnosis of temporomandibular disorder. Gender was the only factor associated with the incidence of TMD in 12-year-old adolescents.