Relationship between habitual occlusal position and flat bite plane induced occlusal position in volunteers with and without temporomandibular joint sounds.

The aim of this study was to assess whether temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds are associated with the difference between the habitual occlusal position (HOP) and the bite plane induced occlusal position (BPOP). Fifteen dental technician school students who had complete natural dentition, normal occlusion and who exhibited TMJ sounds were compared with fifteen healthy control subjects. HOP was recorded by voluntary jaw closing while in an upright position, and BPOP was recorded after wearing an anterior bite plane for a short period of time. Three interocclusal records were obtained in both positions with a vinyl polysiloxane material, and the recorded maxillomandibular relations were analyzed three-dimensionally and compared. Subjects with TMJ sounds had statistically larger differences between HOP and BPOP than controls (p<.05). Within this study population, an association was found between TMJ sounds and the difference between HOP and BPOP.