Abstract

SANGUINETTI, Martín; MINVIELLE, Martín  and  RIVA, Raúl. Association between generalized joint hypermobility and temporomandibular joint clicking. Odontoestomatología [online]. 2021, vol.23, n.37, e203.  Epub Apr 30, 2021. ISSN 0797-0374.  https://doi.org/10.22592/ode2021n37a3.

This study analyzes whether generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) is a risk factor for temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). Therefore, we evaluated the potential association between TMD clicking and GJH diagnosis. We worked with the following hypothesis: patients with GJH would have a higher prevalence of TMJ clicking than those without it, making GJH a risk factor for joint disorders.

Two hundred and fourteen students from the School of Dentistry of Universidad de la República del Uruguay (UdelaR) were examined: 161 female and 53 male, aged 18 to 30 (average age: 23.8 years, SD=2.7). Each participant was given a questionnaire, and a clinical examination was performed to diagnose GJH using the Beighton score (BS), clicking, history of maxillofacial trauma, orthodontics, full dentition, open lock, and shift. A calibrated blind researcher (kappa inter-rater click calibration = 0.68; intra-rater BS score=0.82, click=1) performed all the examinations. The Ethics Committee approved the study, and all the participants signed an informed consent. A multiple logistic regression model was used to analyze the data statistically.

GJH prevalence was 34.16% in women and 7.55% in men; clicking prevalence was 24.22% in women and 11.32% in men. There was a significant association between sex (OR=3.244, p-value 0.018) and history of trauma (OR=2.478, p-value 0.041) and the presence of clicking. No association was found between clicking and GJH.

Female sex and history of trauma could be risk factors for TMJ disorders. The lack of association between GJH and clicking in this age group (18-30) suggests that GJH may not be a risk factor for developing these pathologies.

Keywords : Temporomandibular Articulation; Joint Instability.

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