The relationship between pathological wear of teeth and temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD) is quite frequent pathology in population. In scientific literature pathological tooth wear (PTW) is listed among the predisposing factors of it.

During the survey 189 primary patients of dental department in polyclinic of Panevezys city were examined. According to the tooth wear degree 2 groups have been formed: control group (grade 0-1) withouth TMJ dysfunction; and experimental group (grade 2-4) with presumable TMJD.

In experimental group tooth wear of anterior and posterior region increases with age respectively (p<0.05). It was also found that centric occlusion (CO) and relative rest heights difference increases with age in the control group (p<0.05) as well as the experimental group (p=0.001). In patients with diagnosed TMJD the difference between heights in CO and relative rest was bigger than in patients without TMJD (p=0.039). In the experimental group TMJD was diagnosed the most of patients grade-4 in 90%. The most common symptom is joint sounds was observed in 72.2%.

35-50 and over 50 age groups of patients had a higher first molars degree of wear than the younger ones. In patients with diagnosed TMJD the difference between heights in CO and relative rest was bigger than in patients without TMJD. TMJD symptoms and of posterior teeth pathological wear interface hypothesis confirmed. In the experimental group TMJD was diagnosed the most common in 90% of patients grade-4. The most common symptom is "Nutcracker" of experimental group patients 77.2%.