Influence of missing teeth on temporomandibular joint dysfunctions in adults

Background
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are dysfunctions of the masticatory muscles and temporomandibular joints. TMDs are considered the most commonly reported conditions by patients in the dental office, right after tooth decay and periodontal disease. Previous research suggested that there is a correlation between the lack of first molar replacement occurring due to malocclusion and the incidence of TMDs.

Aims
The aim of this research was to establish whether there is a correlation between the incidence of missing teeth and TMDs.

Material and methods
A group of 420 people took part in an online questionnaire conducted through the ankieteo.pl website. Taking into consideration the exclusion criteria, such as single missing teeth, eighth molar deficits, and ages under 24 and over 55 years, 277 individuals were eligible to participate in the study. The experimental group consisted of 145 respondents, 65% of whom were women (n=94) and 35% men (n=51). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software and a significance level of p≤0.05 was assumed.

Results
According to the survey, 65.3% of those with missing teeth also had tinnitus. In contrast, 15.9% of individuals in this group reported the presence of crepitation. In the experimental group, missing teeth were associated with teeth grinding (16.2%), headaches after waking up (19.1%), and sensitivity when eating hot or cold food (26.4%). Conclusion

Conclusions
An association between the incidence of missing teeth and TMDs has been demonstrated. A positive correlation was found between tinnitus, teeth sensitivity when eating hot or cold food and missing teeth. However, no significant relationship was observed in relation to the presence of parafunctions.