Class II Malocclusion and its Relationship with Temporomandibular Disorders. A Literature Review.

Abstract

Introduction: Class II malocclusion is a common disorder in which there is a distal relationship between the mandibular molars and the maxillary molars. It has two subdivisions based on the inclination of the upper central incisors. It significantly affects the facial aesthetics and quality of life of those who suffer from it. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a group of disorders that involve both the masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and/or their associated structures, and may be of articular or muscular origin. Objectives: To analyze the relationship between class II malocclusion and temporomandibular disorders according to the available updated literature. Materials and Method: The PubMed online search engine was used with the Mesh terms “Temporomandibular Joint Disorders” and “Malocclusion, Angle Class II” and a total of 13 studies were selected to perform the literature review. Conclusions: There are controversial results regarding the relationship between class II malocclusion and TMD, which may be due to differences in diagnostic criteria, methodology used, and characteristics of the samples studied. Class II malocclusion has been identified in some studies as a possible predisposing factor for the development of TMD, especially in terms of the anatomy and position of the TMJ. However, the evidence is not conclusive. Some research suggests that class II malocclusion could be a predisposing factor for TMD. Temporomandibular disorders have a multifactorial etiology, therefore, class II malocclusion should not be considered a sole determining factor in the development of these disorders.