Association between dental occlusal variables and intraarticular temporomandibular joint disorders: horizontal and vertical overlap.
BACKGROUND
It has been suggested that dental occlusion may play a role in the development of intraarticular temporomandibular joint disorders.


OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the relationship between horizontal and vertical overlap and intraarticular temporomandibular joint disorders.


METHODS
Vertical and horizontal overlap of the anterior teeth of 82 asymptomatic volunteers and 263 symptomatic patients were examined.


RESULTS
Fifty-five (67%) of the asymptomatic volunteers had normal joints and 27 (33%) had disk displacement. Two hundred and twenty-one patients (84%) had disk displacement and 42 (16%) had bilateral symptomatic normal joints. Horizontal overlap equal to or greater than 4 mm was more prevalent in the symptomatic patient group as compared with the asymptomatic volunteer group (p < 0.05). Vertical overlap equal to or greater than 4 mm demonstrated no significant differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Horizontal overlap equal to or greater than 4 mm was greater in symptomatic patients with intraarticular temporomandibular joint disorders.
Kahn
J
J
University of Rochester, Eastman Dental Center, N.Y., USA.
Tallents
R H
RH
Katzberg
R W
RW
Moss
M E
ME
Murphy
W C
WC
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014716:Vertical Dimension