Publication:

Perception of the relationship between temporomandibular dysfunction and orthodontic treatment among Saudi population

Background The consensus about the relationship between temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) and orthodontic treatment has gone from a cause and effect association between TMD and orthodontic treatment to the idea that there is no reliable evidence supporting this statement. The objective of the study was to assess the perception of the relationship between TMD and orthodontic treatment among Saudi population.

Methods This is a cross-sectional survey about the relationship between TMD and orthodontic treatment which was prepared and sent to Saudi population through social medias. Answers were treated by means of descriptive statistics and strong associations between variables were assessed by Fischer’s test.

Results A total of 826 participant were involved in the study and were divided according to age into two groups. Questions about history of receiving orthodontic treatment, knowledge about the tempo-mandibular joint, relationship of orthodontic treatment and TMD and the thought that orthodontic treatment may increase symptoms of TMD were all significant with p<0.005.

Conclusion This study suggests that orthodontists' beliefs about the relationship between orthodontic treatment and TMD are in accordance with scientific evidence only when referring to treatment and prevention of TMD. The majority of orthodontists believe that, despite scientific evidence, orthodontic treatment can cause TMD.