Prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in edentulous subjects rehabilitated with prosthesis total

Introdution: Even with the development of preventive dentistry during the last decades and the advent of dental implants, it is still possible to find patients who need rehabilitation with conventional full denture. Whatever the cause of edentulism, TMD can affect edentulous patients, with and without prostheses. The Temporomandibular Disorders can be defined as a set of painful and/or dysfunctional involving the masticatory muscles and/or temporomandibular joints.Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate and investigate the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in edentulous subjects, and correlate them with the clinical findings.Methodology: The research sample consisted of 25 edentulous subjects, who underwent rehabilitation treatment with conventional full denture dual discipline Prosthesis Total. The examination followed the RDC (Research Diagnostic Criteria), used for diagnosis of TMD.Result: Of the 25 patients examined, only 1 (4%) had a diagnosis related to myofascial pain. Regarding disc displacement, time of edentulism (p=0,077) and time of use of the prothesis current (p=0,077) were statistically significant, both with 5 subjects with disc displacement. As for degenerative changes and/or painful TMJ, time of edentulism (p=0,012) and time of use of the prothesis current (p=0,012) showed also significant results.Conclusion: Regarding disc displacement and degenerative changes, only the time of edentulism and time of use of denture current were clinical findings statistically significant.