Abstract
The purpose of this study is to find the factors related to the adaptability of newly asessed protrusive occlusion initiated with the repositioning appliance. Twenty six TMD patients (14 female and 12 males; mean age of 30.3±8.6y) with disc displacement having difficulty and/or pain on opening were divided into two groups based on the adaptability of the repositioning appliance. The adaptive group (group A) and the non-adaptive group (group N) were examined in terms of age, gender, MR findings, range of jaw opening, anterior overbite, and over jet. All the patients examined in this study were followed up for at least two years after repositioning appliance therapy. Ten of the patients were categorized in group A, and 16 were in group N. It was discovered that after wearing the repositioning appliance over a week, the patients in group N experienced discomfort in TMJ or masticatory muscles. Although over jet in group A (5.3±3.1mm) showed a significantly bigger overlap (p<0.05; t-test) than group N (2.7±1.4mm), the rest parameters didn't. Horizontal overlap in anterior teeth could be one of the intrinsic factors affecting adaptability of anterior therapeutic position.
