The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders among a sample of complete denture wearers.
Seventy patients were randomly selected to evaluate the relationship between temporomandibular disorders and clinical symptoms. Pseudodynamic MR imaging of the temporomandibular joint were used to evaluate internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint. Of this group, 68.6% had internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint, and 55.7% had osteoarthrosis of the temporomandibular joint. It was also found that internal derangement in complete denture wearers was significantly related to osteoarthrosis.
None of this sample group had any chief complaints regarding TMJ disorders in clinical symptoms.
In addition, there was a prevalence of internal derangement in relation to sex, but not in relation to age. There was a higher frequency of short cycle denture life among the patients suffering from internal derangement in this group of complete denture wearers than those not suffering from internal derangement.
The degree of internal derangement severity in the complete denture wearers was related to abnormality of maxillomandibular relation, quality of the denture, mandibular movement during maximum opening of the mouth at incisal point, and previous clinical manifestations.
It became clear that a functional clinical examination of the temporomandibular joints is an important factor for determining the prognosis of complete denture wearers suffering from internal derangement of the TMJ.
