title: Association between craniomandibular disorders and occlusal interferences.
abstract: No theoretical model explaining craniomandibular disorders has been generally accepted, despite the large number of studies on its etiology. This article suggests that one reason for the lack of a well-structured causal explanation could be associated with the study design most often used: cross-sectional studies of samples representative of a base population. Variation in the number of interferences was increased among the subjects by eliminating occlusal interferences annually in the treatment group (n = 53). The control group (n = 46) underwent placebo treatment. A double-blind design was used throughout the 3-year study. A cross-sectional analysis in the third year disclosed a significant association between the number of interferences and the signs of craniomandibular disorders. The results suggest that the absence of interference-free subjects in nonselected samples can be one explanation for the lack of association reported in most studies.
authors: University of Turku, Institute of Dentistry, Finland.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Kirveskari
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Alanen
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Jämsä
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003769:Dental Occlusion, Traumatic / Q000150:complications*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*