[How does the habit of teeth clenching affect the symptoms and signs of patients with temporomandibular disorders?].

Objectives: We aimed to compare the symptoms and signs of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) with and without a history of diurnal teeth clenching.

Patients And Methods: The study was designed prospectively and included 34 patients with a diagnosis of bilateral temporomandibular joint pain and/or dysfunction. A "Patient Questionnaire Form" and "Patient Assessment Form" generated by the Diagnosis and Treatment Unit of Temporomandibular Disorders, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, were used in the evaluation of the patients.

Results: The mean ages of patients with (group I, n=17) and without (group II, n=17) teeth clenching habit were 28.6+/-10.6 and 31.5+/-13.8 years, respectively. Female patients accounted for 76.5% and 47.1% in group I and group II, respectively. The age and gender showed no significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05). Stress factor was significantly higher in group I and was found to aggravate pain and other complaints, according to the questionnaire (p<0.05). Pain associated with jaw movements of all directions and pain radiating to the ear region were found to be significantly higher in group I (p<0.05). Total palpation index, based on physical examination of bilateral extra- and intra-oral masticatory muscles, neck muscles, and capsule of the temporomandibular joints was significantly higher in group I (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that habit of teeth clenching in patients with TMD affects biomechanically both muscles and joints of the masticatory system, resulting in muscle/joint pain, and that stress factor aggravates those symptoms. This finding may be useful in the treatment of symptoms and signs of patients with TMD.