Risk factors for temporomandibular disorders in young people

Aim – to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) in young people.

Material and methods. A clinical examination and questionnaire were randomly administered to 199 students aged 17 to 28 years using a specially designed questionnaire chart. The respondents with identified laterotrusive or mediatrusive occlusal interferences underwent electromyography (4-channel EMG system "Synapsis", Neurotech) of masticatory muscles before and after elimination of occlusal interferences. Psychoemotional state was assessed using the Spielberger – Hanin situational and personal anxiety test.

Results. The results obtained revealed a high prevalence of signs and symptoms of dysfunctional disorders (87.9%), the leading signs of which were pain or stiffness in the head and neck region (52.7%), sounds (squeaks, clicks, crepitus) in one or both temporomandibular joints when chewing and opening the mouth (39.2%), feeling of pressure, stuffiness or noise in the ears (25.1%), pain when opening the mouth (21.6%). The number of such signs and symptoms was greater in persons with postural disorders and respondents after orthodontic treatment.

Electromyographic study of patients with mediotrusive and laterotrusive contacts showed asynchronous contraction of the masticatory muscles during "protrusion / retrusion" and "opening / closing", increased electrical activity of the temporal muscle on the opposite side in the "right / left mediotrusion" test (111.5 ± 27.1 μV) compared with the indices of the subjects after the elimination of occlusal interferences (75 ± 19.3 μV; p <0.05). Assessment of the psychoemotional state of the examined patients revealed a moderate level of situational (38.9 points) and personal (38.3 points) anxiety.

Conclusion. The signs and symptoms of TMDs are a common finding among young people, such as pain, stiffness in the head and neck, sounds in one or both joints when chewing and opening the mouth, a feeling of pressure, stuffiness or noise in the ears. The most significant risk factors for the development of TMDs in this age group are posture disorders, orthodontic treatment and occlusal obstructions, which affect muscle tone and increase the symptoms of TMDs.