The Evaluation of Head and Craniocervical Posture among Patients with and without Temporomandibular Joint Disorders- A Comparative Study

Abstract

Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are the most common non-dental cause of orofacial pain with a multifactorial aetiology. Aim: To evaluate the head and craniocervical posture between individuals with and without TMD and its sub types by photographic and radiographic method. Materials and Methods: Thirty four TMD patients diagnosed according to Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD’s (RDC/ TMD) and were divided into 2 groups: Group I (muscle disorder), Group II (disc displacement). Control group comprised of 34 age and sex matched subjects without TMD. Lateral view photographs were taken and the head posture angle was measured. Craniocervical posture was assessed on lateral skull radiograph with two angles (Craniocervical Angle, Cervical Curvature Angle) and two distances (Suboccipital Space, AtlasAxis Distance). To compare the results, t-test was used with significance level of 0.05. Results: Head posture showed no statistical significant difference (p > 0.05) between Group I, II and control group in both photographic and radiographic methods. The cervical curvature angle showed significant difference (p = 0.045) in Group I only. Atlas-Axis Distance was statistically significant in Group II (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The present study confirmed that there is a negative association of head posture and TMD whereas, cervical lordosis was present in Group I only.

Keywords

• craniocervical angle
• craniofacial pain
• photographic analysis of tmd
• radiographic analysis of tmd
• temporomandibular disorder