Prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction in male adolescent athletes and non-athletes

Abstract 

Purpose

The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) in male adolescent athletes—basketball players and non-athletes and to examine the association between signs and symptoms of TMD in male adolescents in different Tanner stages.

Methods

The subjects were 46 male basketball players ages 10–13 years and 41 male adolescent non-athletes ages 10–18 years selected from the Department of Pediatrics (School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo) as a control group. A questionnaire was used to assess the signs and symptoms of TMD. According to the answers on the questionnaire the adolescents were classified in two categories: no signs or symptoms present (score A—absent), at least one sign or symptom present (score P—present). The ones who got score “P” were submitted to a standardized functional examination of the masticatory system by the same examiner. Pubertal status was assessed based on physical examination by physicians from our Division. The adolescents were classified according to Tanner stages into three subgroups: subgroup 1 (before the growth spurt), subgroup 2 (growth spurt period), subgroup 3 (end of growth spurt). Significant differences between athletes and non-athletes were assessed using non-parametric Wilcoxon test for continuous variables and the Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. The level of significance used was 5%.

Results

There was no significant difference between the athletes and non-athletes in exhibiting at least one sign or symptom of TMD (p=0.1148). When comparing the adolescents who presented at least one symptom of TMD to the different subgroups of Tanner Stages no statistically significant differences were found (p=0.8357).

Conclusion

The lack of significant differences among male adolescents athletes and non-athletes may be caused by the size of the sample, the age of the athletes or by a probable protective action of testosterone levels in male athletes. The lack of statistical difference comparing the adolescents who presented at least one sign or symptom of TMD to subgroups of Tanner is probably because estrogen is the risk factor hormone and the levels of estrogen in male adolescents are very low.

Keywords: Adolescent, Adolescent health, Temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome, Puberty