Prevalence of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders in Patients with Impacted Teeth: An Institutional Study
Author(s): Keerthika S and Santhosh Kumar MP*
Abstract
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the structures of the stomatognathic system. Temporomandibular joint is a ginglymoarthrodial joint composed of synovial cavity, articular cartilage and a capsule that covers the same joint. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) has multifactorial etiology, and the commonly reported ones are emotional tension, occlusal interference, teeth loss, postural deviation, masticatory muscular dysfunction, internal and external changes in Temporomandibular structures. Removal of the third molars has been propounded as a factor with the potential to damage TMJ. Trauma resulting from the surgery of third molars has been reported to be a predisposing factor in the progression of TMD symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of TMJ disorders in patients with impacted teeth. A prospective study was conducted in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery in Saveetha Dental College and Hospital from October 2019-December 2019. The study population included 28 patients with impacted teeth and 28 patients without impacted teeth. Thus, the sample size included a total of 56 patients who were evaluated for the presence of clinical findings of TMD. Data was collected and statistical analysis was performed. Microsoft Excel 2016 (Microsoft office 10) data spreadsheet was used to collect data and later exported to SPSS IBM (version 23.0). Descriptive statistics and chi square test were employed with a level of significance set at p<0.05. In the current study out of 56 patients, it was seen that the symptoms of Temporomandibular joint disorders were more prevalent in female patients (58.06%). Clicking sound of TMJ was more prevalent in patients without impaction (56.52%) when compared to patients with impaction (43.48%). Association between clinical findings of TMD and impacted teeth was statistically not significant. p value=0.273. Within the limits of the study, temporomandibular joint disorders were present both in patients with and without impacted teeth, and impacted teeth had no significant influence on the development of temporomandibular Joint disorders.