Background/aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between certain morphologic features of the craniofacial skeleton and the presence of symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in young subjects with natural dentitions.
Methods: The investigation was carried out on 80 lateral cephalometric radiographs of two groups of male and female subjects between 18 and 25 years of age with natural dentitions. The analysed group consisted of 30 subjects with symptoms of temporomandibular disorders, and the control group of 50 subjects without such symptoms. According to the values of the ANB angle (position of the maxilla with the mandible-Steiner cephalometric analysis) all subjects were classified in the skeletal class 1. The roentgencraniometric analysis of cephalometric radiographs included the evaluation of 25 linear dimensions which values were compared between the examined groups and with the values of the same dimensions in the Bolton standards for 18 years of age.
Results: The results of this study confirmed the presence of significant differences between the examined linear dimensions in the Bolton standards and the same dimensions measured in the subjects of the analysed and the control group. The comparative analysis of these values between the groups confirmed the presence of significant differences in following linear dimensions at the level of p < 0.00: S - Cs(Go), Mol - PP, Mol - MP and Ar - Go.
Conclusion: Significant differences between the examined linear dimensions measured in the subjects included in this study and the same dimensions in the Bolton standards can be explained by specific morphologic features of the craniofacial skeleton in people of our population. Within the limitation of this study, the minor differences in the values of the examined linear variables between the subjects of the experimental and the control group can not be accepted as indicators of disturbed function of the orofacial system.