Background: The influence of complete denture occlusion on temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is controversial. Some studies found that defective occlusion contributes to the development of TMD, while others found no correlation.
Objective: This prospective controlled study evaluated the relationship between renewal of old defective complete dentures and TMD as evidenced both by clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.
Materials and methods: The study included 25 complete denture patients with signs and symptoms of TMD and 21 asymptomatic controls. Clicking was a common finding in all symptomatic joints. All selected participants needed complete denture renewal. MRI and clinical assessment following research diagnostic criteria for TMD guidelines (RDC/TMD) were carried out at baseline and 2 years after new complete denture insertion. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, muscle pain, clicking and movement limitation were the assessed signs and symptoms. MRIs were conducted to evaluate the TMJs for disc displacement, disc morphology and joint effusion.
Results: Complete denture renewal significantly improved the signs and symptoms of TMD in symptomatic group (p < 0.01). Only in the symptomatic group, treatment resulted in a significant increase in joints displaying superior (normal) disc position (symptomatic p < 0.001; asymptomatic p = 0.157). New dentures did not affect disc morphology in both groups (p = 0.5 for both groups) but significantly reduced joint effusion in the symptomatic group (symptomatic p < 0.001; asymptomatic p = 0.5). Relationship between clinical and MRI findings was not one to one.
Conclusions: New complete dentures had a positive impact on TMD signs and symptoms, disc position and joint effusion but not on disc morphology.
Keywords: TMJ pain; complete dentures; disc displacement; magnetic resonance imaging; temporomandibular disorder.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S and The Gerodontology Society. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.