SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DISTANCE OF MIDLINE MOVING IN CANINEGUIDED OCCLUSION

Objectives: this study was done with the objective of determining the distance of movement between the maxillary and mandibular midline (dmm) and its relationship with the signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (tmd) in canine-guided occlusion and to compare the obtained values between the right and left sides. materials and methods: one hundred females showing canine-guided occlusion and angle's class i canine and molar relation were chosen for the study. the maxillary midline’s corresponding line was marked on the mandible with a marker pen in the patient's mouth, both during maximum intercuspation and at the edges of maxillary and mandibular canine contact. dmm was considered as the distance between the two lines (measured using a digital caliper). the percentages of signs and symptoms were compared using the chi-square test to determine the differences among the groups for the rates of tmd symptoms, bruxism, joint sounds and unilateral chewing. results: the mean value of the dmm for all subjects was found to be 3.61 mm on the right side and 3.64 mm on the left side. the values were subjected to a paired t-test, and the p value was statistically insignificant (p>0.05). reported tmj(temporo mandibular joints) clicking at the start was the only significant predictor (p<0.01) for tmd symptoms (pain in jaw), and bruxism was a marginally significant predictor for pain in the jaw (p=0.055). other predictors from the baseline examinations (unilateral chewing, missing teeth) were insignificant. conclusion: it can be concluded from this study that these values of dmm cannot be used for predicting the manifestation of tmd.