Relationships between oral parafunctions and functional disturbances in the stomatognathic system among 15- to 18-year-olds.

An interview and a clinical examination of signs and symptoms of functional disturbances and diseases in the stomatognathic system were performed on 309 adolescents 15-18 years old. Relationships and differences between data from this investigation were analyzed. Statistically significant correlations were found between headaches, bruxism, and tenderness to palpation of the attachment of the temporal muscle. There were also correlations between occlusal interferences in the retruded position (RP) and clickings and between mediotrusion interferences and clickings. The occlusal interferences were correlated to tenderness to palpation of the TMJ and TMJ muscles. Young people with distal occlusal relation were more frequently conscious of symptoms from the stomatognathic system than those with neutral or mesial occlusal relation. Deep bite was correlated to clenching and frontal dental wear.