Major maxillomandibular malrelations and temporomandibular joint pain-dysfunction

A retrospective questionnaire survey of 102 patients who underwent orthognathic surgery for maxillomandibular disharmonies assessed the incidence of TMJ pain-dysfunction in both pretreatment and posttreatment phases. While retrospective questionnaire studies have obvious limitations, the following conclusions deserve consideration. The incidence of TMJ pain-dysfunction symptoms found in this patient population appears to be higher than the incidence of those symptoms reported in previous epidemiologic studies of general populations which involved subjective symptoms alone. Maxillomandibular disharmonies may be an important etiologic factor in the development of TMJ pain-dysfunction. Surgical correction of the disharmony in a significant percent of patients with maxillomandibular disharmonies and concomitant TMJ pain-dysfunction may alleviate or improve the TMJ pain-dysfunction symptoms. There is a possibility that patients may develop TMJ pain-dysfunction symptoms after orthognathic surgery.