Mandibular function, temporomandibular disorders, and headache in prematurely born children.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate mandibular function, signs, and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and headache in prematurely born 8- to 10-year-old children, and to compare the findings with matched full-term born controls.


METHODS
Seventy-three preterm children were selected from the Medical Birth Register--one group comprising 36 extremely preterm children born before the 29th gestational week, the other group 37 very preterm children born during gestational weeks 29 to 32. The preterm children were compared with a control group of 41 full-term children matched for gender, age, nationality, and living area. The subjective symptoms of TMD and headache were registered using a questionnaire. Mandibular function, signs, and symptoms of TMD and headache were registered. TMD diagnoses were set per Research Diagnostic Criteria for temporomandibular disorders (RDC/TMD).


RESULTS
No significant differences between groups or gender were found for TMD diagnoses according to RDC/TMD or for headache. The preterm children had smaller mandibular movement capacity than the full-term control group, but when adjusting for weight, height, and head circumference mostly all group differences disappeared.


CONCLUSIONS
Prematurely born children of 8 to 10 years of age did not differ from full-term born children when considering diagnoses according to RDC/TMD, signs, and symptoms of TMD or headache.
Paulsson
Liselotte
L
Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden. liselotte.paulsson@mah.se
Ekberg
Ewacarin
E
Nilner
Maria
M
Bondemark
Lars
L
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D020773:Headache Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*