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Temporomandibular Disorders in German and Chinese Adolescents

Kraniomandibuläre Dysfunktionen bei Jugendlichen in Deutschland und China

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Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics / Fortschritte der Kieferorthopädie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective:

The etiology of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) remains unclear. The aim of this study was, by comparing the prevalence of TMD between adolescents of different ethnic origin, to examine whether certain genetic factors may play a role in causing TMD.

Subjects and Methods:

We assessed the prevalence of TMD according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) in 1,058 subjects (561 German, 497 Chinese) aged 13 to 18 years from two general population samples.

Results:

In total, the prevalence of RDC/TMD diagnoses was 13.9% (N = 147). The difference between German (13.0%, N = 73) and Chinese adolescents (14.9%, N = 74) was not statistically significant. After controlling for the effects of age, gender and orthodontic treatment using multivariable logistic regression analyses, the prevalence of RDC/TMD group II diagnoses (disc displacement) was lower in China than Germany (odds ratio [OR] = 0.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.3–0.8), whereas the prevalence of RDC/TMD pain diagnoses (group I, III) was higher in China (OR = 3.3, 95%-CI: 1.7–6.5).

Conclusions:

Our study reveals obvious differences in the prevalence of TMD between adolescents of different ethnic origins (Asians and Europeans). These differences cannot be attributed to cultural differences alone, which implies the involvement of genetic factors in the etiology of TMD.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel:

Die Ätiopathogenese kraniomandibulärer Dysfunktionen (CMD) ist trotz intensiver Forschung im Detail noch immer weitgehend unklar. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war, mit einem Vergleich der CMD-Prävalenz bei Jugendlichen verschiedener ethnischer Gruppen zu eruieren, ob genetische Faktoren als Ursache für CMD mit in Betracht gezogen werden müssen.

Probanden und Methodik:

Für den interkulturellen Vergleich der CMD-Prävalenz wurden zufällig ausgewählte Probanden zweier repräsentativer Stichproben in Deutschland (N = 561) und China (N = 497) im Alter von 13 bis 18 Jahren auf das Vorkommen von CMD nach den „Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders“ (RDC/TMD) untersucht.

Ergebnisse:

Von den insgesamt 1058 Probanden wiesen 13,9% (N = 147) eine CMD-Diagnose auf. Dabei war der Unterschied in der CMD-Prävalenz (alle Diagnosegruppen zusammen) zwischen Deutschland (13,0%, N = 73) und China (14,9%, N = 74) statistisch nicht signifikant. Bei der Analyse in den diagnostischen Subgruppen mittels multivariabler logistischer Regression unter Kontrolle der Effekte von Alter, Geschlecht und kieferorthopädischer Behandlung zeigte sich, dass bei Jugendlichen in China im Vergleich zu Deutschland signifikant weniger Diskusverlagerungen im Kiefergelenk (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0,5; 95%-Konfidenzintervall [KI]: 0,3–0,8), jedoch mehr CMD-Schmerzdiagnosen (OR = 3,3; 95%-KI: 1,7–6,5) zu finden waren.

Schlussfolgerungen:

Die Studie weist eindeutig Unterschiede in der CMD-Prävalenz bei Jugendlichen verschiedener ethnischer Gruppen (hier Asiaten und Europäer) auf. Da diese nicht allein durch kulturell bedingte Unterschiede erklärt werden können, muss zumindest von einer Beteiligung genetischer Faktoren an der CMD-Ätiopathogenese ausgegangen werden.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Primary Prevention, Department of Orthodontics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    Ning Wu &  Christian Hirsch MSc

  2. Abteilung für Kinderzahnheilkunde und Primärprophylaxe, Poliklinik für Kieferorthopädie und Kinderzahnheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig AöR, Nürnberger Str. 57, 04103, Leipzig, Germany

    Christian Hirsch MSc

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  1. Ning Wu
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Correspondence to Christian Hirsch MSc.

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Wu, N., Hirsch, C. Temporomandibular Disorders in German and Chinese Adolescents. J Orofac Orthop 71, 187–198 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00056-010-1004-x

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