Association of congenitally missing teeth with adult temporomandibular disorders in the urban health checkup population

Abstract

Background Congenitally missing tooth is the most common dental abnormality which leaves spaces in the arch, leads to numerous forms of malocclusion due to the Bolton index discrepancy and is even associated with abnormal craniofacial morphology. Even though the roles of malocclusion and tooth loss in temporomandibular disorders (TMD) development remain controversial, basic researches have found some common molecules are involved in osteoarthritis and dental agenesis. However, the association of congenitally missing teeth with TMD is unknown. We hence investigated the association of congenitally missing teeth with TMD. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of 586 control participants (male: 287, female: 299, 38.33 ± 11.65 years) and 583 participants with non-third molar congenitally missing teeth (male: 238, female: 345, 39.13 ± 11.67 years) who consecutively received routine dental and TMD checkup according to Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Axis I in Health Management Center, Xiangya Hospital was performed. Logistic regression analysis was used to study the association of congenitally missing teeth with TMD. Results The congenitally missing teeth group included 581 hypodontia and 2 oligodontia participants. The congenitally missing anterior teeth participants, the congenitally missing posterior teeth participants and participants with both congenitally missing anterior and posterior teeth accounted for 88.34%, 8.40% and 3.26% of the congenitally missing teeth group respectively. Congenitally missing teeth group had greater ratios of females and orthodontic history. Participants with congenitally missing teeth had a significantly higher prevalence of overall TMD (67.24%) in comparison to control participants (45.90%). After adjusting age, gender, presence of congenitally missing teeth, number of congenitally missing teeth, number of non-congenitally missing teeth, number of dental quadrants with missing teeth, visible third molar and orthodontic history, the variables of age, gender, presence of congenitally missing teeth and number of dental quadrants with missing teeth were significant for overall TMD. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed congenitally missing tooth was significantly related with overall TMD [odds ratio (OR):1.689(1.080–2.642), P = 0.022], intra-articular TMD [OR: 1.711(1.103–2.656), P = 0.017] and pain-related TMD [OR: 3.093(1.321–7.239), P = 0.009]. Conclusion Congenitally missing tooth is a risk factor for TMD. When treating the congenitally missing teeth population, TMJ evaluation and multidisciplinary strategies are necessary.

Relationship Between Occlusal Factors and Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Literature Review

“…The literature review includes a diverse set of studies, including cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive-analytic, single-center, case-control, interdisciplinary longitudinal, and clinical studies. We found cross-sectional studies [ 16 - 18 , 21 , 22 , 28 , 29 , 33 ], retrospective cross-sectional studies [ 15 , 19 , 20 , 23 , 24 ], descriptive-analytic with a cross-sectional design [ 25 ], case-control studies [ 26 , 35 ], a single-center retrospective clinical study [ 27 ], an interdisciplinary longitudinal study [ 30 ], a clinical study [ 31 ], and retrospective clinical studies [ 32 , 34 ].…”

“…Liu et al conducted a study to examine the association between congenitally missing teeth and TMD. The analysis included 583 patients with one or more congenitally missing non-third molar teeth and 586 controls with no congenitally missing non-third molar teeth [ 29 ]. To diagnose TMD, the researchers utilized the DC/TMD guidelines.…”

“…To diagnose TMD, the researchers utilized the DC/TMD guidelines. Participants with congenitally absent teeth had a considerably higher prevalence of TMD (67.24%) than those without congenitally absent teeth (45.90%) (p <0.001) [ 29 ]. In addition, congenitally absent teeth were significantly associated with TMD overall, intra-articular TMD, and pain-related TMD (p <0.001) [ 29 ].…”

“…Participants with congenitally absent teeth had a considerably higher prevalence of TMD (67.24%) than those without congenitally absent teeth (45.90%) (p <0.001) [ 29 ]. In addition, congenitally absent teeth were significantly associated with TMD overall, intra-articular TMD, and pain-related TMD (p <0.001) [ 29 ]. Synthesis and analysis of findings (PICO) on the investigation of the correlation between tooth loss and TMD are represented in Table 4 .…”

“…Eight studies were conducted to investigate the association between dental loss and TMDs, with a total of 2008 subjects being included [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. All studies, except one [27], employed a retrospective study design that compared patients with missing teeth to those without missing teeth.…”