The relationship of temporomandibular joint disorders with extraoral and intraoral structures in children

The aim of this thesis study is to reveal the changes in intraoral and extraoral structures caused by temporomandibular joint disease in children with mixed dentition and permanent dentition and to investigate their relationship with etiologic and predisposing factors. Among the patients presenting to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry of Uşak University, 61 children (31 children aged 6-12 years, 30 children aged 12-15 years) with at least one of the symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder and 61 healthy children (31 children) who had no signs of temporomandibular joint disorder were included in the study. Children aged 6-12 years, 30 children aged 12-15 years). As a result of the study, the incidence of temporomandibular joint disorder was found to increase with age and was more common in girls. Common symptoms in the study group may be listed headaches, joint noises and pain, tenderness in chewing muscles, postural problems, and a decrease in maximum mouth opening and masseter muscle thickness. It was also found that skeletal and dental malocclusions were more common in the study group.