An investigation of mandibular asymmetries in patients with TMD as an element of the design of dental polymeric devices for early rehabilitation

It is essential to acquire data that will allow the detection of problems occurring within anatomical material structures before the appearance of obvious symptoms of TMD and to design materials and devices in order to take preventive measures. The aim was to examine if asymmetrical changes in the mandible ramus height may indicate TMD. Hypotheses were that asymmetry may be an indicator of TMD and that trauma at a young age may lead to growth changes in the height of the mandibular ramus, hence asymmetries.An investigated group consisted of 65 patients with TMD, and the control group consisted of 20 patients with no TMD. The images were obtained with a Durr Vista Panoramic system. The differences in the height of the ramus were calculated. Statistical analysis of the results was performed.Most patients diagnosed with TMD experienced traumatic events in childhood, while no similar cases were reported in the control group. Significant asymmetry was also found in the TMD group. The gender of the patients did not influence the asymmetries. There was no correlation between the age of the patients and the asymmetry in patients with TMD. Still, the correlation occurred in the control group due to significant asymmetries for the youngest patients.The small size of the investigated and control group and the fact that patients come from a private clinic in a geographic area with a low population density were limiting factors.Asymmetries are an indicator of TMD, which may facilitate the early diagnosis of this TMD and the early implementation of treatment using polymeric materials. The knowledge that the development of asymmetry may be related to accidents in childhood or adolescence indicates that such patients should be subjected to preventive observation.The study offers knowledge useful for designing rehabilitation polymeric materials and devices. Asymmetrical changes in the mandible ramus high may be indicative of TMD. TMD is strongly associated with trauma declared by patients at a young age.