Symptoms, disc position, occluding pairs, and facial skeletal characteristics of older patients with temporomandibular disorders

OBJECTIVE: To describe the proportions of different osseous diagnoses in older patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and to analyze the symptoms, disc position, occluding pairs, and facial skeletal characteristics of patients with bilateral osteoarthrosis (BOA) and bilateral normal joints (BNJ). METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study constituted 88 older patients (age ≥60 years). The osseous diagnosis, symptoms, disc position, occluding pairs, and facial skeletal characteristics were evaluated. Variables in BOA patients and BNJ patients were compared using the t-test and chi-square test. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients had BOA, 7 had unilateral osteoarthrosis, 11 had intermediate osteoarthrosis, and 22 had BNJ. The prevalence of disc displacement without reduction (DDw/oR) in BOA patients was significantly higher than in BNJ patients. BOA patients exhibited greater ANB angle, PP-MP, U1-NPo, L1-NPo, and facial convexity angle; shorter posterior cranial base; and decreased ramus height. CONCLUSION: BOA patients with associated DDw/oR had more complaints of orofacial pain and exhibited a shorter posterior cranial base, and greater mandibular retrusion, anterior tooth protrusion, and protruded profile than BNJ patients.