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Adolescent Patient's Perceptions During Treatment With Class II Elastics
V Bogdanov1, D Ilova1, Gr Yordanova1
1Department of Orthodontics Faculty of Dental Medicine Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Case Reports in Dentistry
|August 14, 2024
Summary
Orthodontic treatment with Class II elastics may cause temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain in adolescents. Symptoms resolved after elastic removal, indicating reversible temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Area of Science:
- Orthodontics
- Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
Background:
- A 13-year-old male with skeletal Class II malocclusion, narrow maxilla, and deep overbite began orthodontic treatment during his pubertal growth spurt.
- Treatment involved Class II elastics to correct the distal occlusion and overjet.
Observation:
- The patient developed right temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain during mastication and jaw movements approximately two months after initiating Class II elastics.
- Clinical examination revealed pain on palpation of the right TMJ and during jaw movements, with no radiographic abnormalities or joint sounds.
Findings:
- Electromyographic evaluation confirmed a Class II malocclusion pattern.
- Discontinuation of the Class II elastics led to the complete resolution of TMJ pain and associated symptoms.
Implications:
- This case suggests a potential link between the use of Class II elastics in orthodontic treatment and the onset of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain.
- The rapid resolution of symptoms upon elastic removal indicates that such temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) symptoms can be reversible in adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment.
