Temporomandibular disorders and orthognathic surgery

The relations between temporomandibular dysfunctions (TMDs) and maxillomandibular malformations requiring orthognathic surgery for correction have been the object of different studies in medical literature. The authors have performed a bibliographic revision on this issue to show the state of the art. This study, an analysis of the literature of the last 20 years, is chronologically presented. It analyzes the prevalence of TMD in patients with different types of maxillomandibular deformities undergoing orthognathic surgery and the TMD changes that occurred after an orthognathic surgical treatment. Medical studies reported in literature show a high variation of results related both to the prevalence of TMD in patients with maxillomandibular deformities and to the changes ensuing from an orthognathic surgical treatment. It has been difficult to compare the different studies because of the different methods used to individuate TMD signs and symptoms in the groups of patients analyzed, as well as the different types of orthognathic surgery performed and the specific TMD treatments used when required. It is concluded that despite the different results provided by the various studies, a certain prevalence of TMD is always present in patients with maxillomandibular deformity. This can be assumed to be within a correlation between dysgnathia and TMDs, and it asserts the necessity to treat patients who have maxillomandibular deformities and TMD by performing a specific treatment of TMD.