Signs and symptoms of mandibular dysfunction in shortened dental arches

In this study subjects with shortened dental arches (SDA, n = 60), characterized by the absence of molar support, are compared with subjects with a complete dentition (n = 72) with respect to signs and symptoms of mandibular dysfunction. The subjective examination consisted of questions related to pain, noises within the joints and mobility of the lower jaw. The objective examination consisted of the registration of clicking of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) by bilateral palpation and measuring the maximal mouth opening. In spite of the finding that significantly more subjects of the SDA group under 40 years of age reported pain in or around the TMJ, it is concluded that in the population studied no convincing evidence was found that a SDA provokes signs and symptoms of mandibular dysfunction.