Influence of generalized joint hypermobility on temporomandibular joint, mastication and deglutition: a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE: to evaluate temporomandibular joint, mastication and deglutition in asymptomatic women with and without generalized joint hypermobility and the association between these variables. METHODS: forty-three volunteers were evaluated at the Speech-Language-Hearing Service of Federal University of Santa Maria. Hypermobility was evaluated according to the Beighton score and, based on the obtained scores, the volunteers were distributed into two groups: with (n=17) and without hypermobility (n=26). The temporomandibular joint was examined by Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders instrument, and mastication and deglutition functions were assessed through a myofunctional orofacial assessment. RESULTS: the clinical evaluation of the temporomandibular joint showed predominance of joint sounds during jaw movement (52.9%) and mouth opening deviation (76.5%) in the hypermobility group, without statistical significant difference. In the examination of the masticatory function, although most of the volunteers showed a bilateral chewing pattern, the frequency of this pattern was significantly lower in the hypermobility group (p=0.05). A significant association (p=0.02) between chewing and mouth opening pattern was found only in the group without hypermobility, and there was no difference between groups regarding the deglutition function. CONCLUSION: asymptomatic women showed evidence that hypermobility predisposes the occurrence of mouth opening deviation and joint sounds. There was no difference in the deglutition function, but lower frequency of alternating bilateral chewing was found in the group with hypermobility compared to the group without hypermobility.