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Assessment of cervical spine postural disorders in patients with temporomandibular dysfunction: a radiographic evaluation

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Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the impact of abnormal head and neck posture on development of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and to evaluate the possible correlation between cervical spine postural disorders and TMD by measuring craniocervical angles and distances in cervical spine radiographs of individuals with and without symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

Methods

Forty-six subjects aged 20–50 years were selected from the outpatient department of M.S. Ramaiah Dental College and divided into TMD and control groups with 23 subjects per group. The patients were subjected to clinical and radiographic evaluations. TMD diagnosis was based on clinical criteria in the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD). Radiographic evaluation comprised intraobserver and interobserver analyses of lateral cervical spine radiographs with measurements of three angles and two distances in the craniocervical region.

Results

Diagnosis of myofascial pain without limited mouth opening (n = 12) was the most frequent TMD diagnosis according to RDC/TMD. Radiographic evaluation showed that only atlas plane angle (APA) (p = 0.002) and anterior translation distance (ATD; Tz C2–C7) (p < 0.001) showed significant differences between the TMD group (APA: 20.96 ± 7.94°; ATD: 11.04 ± 5.270 mm) and control group (APA: 28.17 ± 10.395°, ATD: 5.70 ± 3.535 mm). Significant correlations were observed for the parameters between the observers (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The present results suggest that head and body posture could be related to the initial onset, development, and perpetuation of TMD and that TMD patients have a tendency to exhibit cervical spine hyperlordosis.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank our Principal and Professor, Dr. H.N. Shama Rao, for his support and guidance.

Conflict of interest

There are no financial or other relations that could lead to a conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral Medicine, Diagnosis and Radiology, M.S. Ramaiah Dental College and Hospital, Msrit Post, New Bel Road, Bangalore, 560054, Karnataka, India

    N. Rakesh & B. K. Yashoda Devi

  2. Department of Oral Medicine, Diagnosis and Radiology, RVS Dental College, Kannampalayam, Coimbatore, 641402, India

    Deepa Jatti Patil

  3. Department of Oral Medicine, Diagnosis and Radiology, Swami Devi Dyal Hospital and Dental College, Panchkula, Haryana, India

    Ravleen Nagi

Authors
  1. N. Rakesh
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  2. B. K. Yashoda Devi
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  3. Deepa Jatti Patil
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Correspondence to N. Rakesh.

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Rakesh, N., Yashoda Devi, B.K., Patil, D.J. et al. Assessment of cervical spine postural disorders in patients with temporomandibular dysfunction: a radiographic evaluation. Oral Radiol 30, 38–44 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-013-0142-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-013-0142-4

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