Influence of Occlusal Interference on the Prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders

The significance of occlusal interference in the etiology of temporomandibular disorders has been questioned in numerous recent articles. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the clinical signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in a young male nonpatient population and to investigate a possible association between the signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders and occlusal interference. A questionnaire including data from history and clinical functional examination was used in the study. All subjects (a total of 230) were male (army recruits), of 19 to 28 years of age (mean 21.3). Temporomandibular joint clicking was reported in 91 subjects, temporomandibular joint pain on palpation and functional loading in 78 subjects, masticatory muscle pain on palpation and functional loading in 58 subjects, tension type headache in 30 subjects, and mandibular deviation on opening and closing movements greater than 2 mm in 43 subjects. The prevalence of occlusal interference in percentage in 230 young adults, 65% had no occlusal interference during examination of the functional state of occlusion, while 14%subjects had centric slide between centric relation and maximum intercuspation, 5% subjects had working side interference and 16% subjects had non-working side interference during lateral and protrusive mandibular movements. Clinical signs and symptoms were correlated with occlusal interference, although their correlation cannot be considered unique or dominant in definition of a temporomandibular disorder population