The relationship between the occlusal interference side and the symptomatic side in temporomandibular disorders

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the facial side of pain or clicking symptoms and the side of occlusal interference, and to examine the features of pain and clicking patients in terms of frequencies of occlusal interferences in relation to the symptomatic side. Occlusal conditions in 31 pain patients and 40 clicking patients were investigated just after the relief of pain or clicking solely by means of bite plane therapy. The symptomatic side did not associate with the side of fewer occlusal contacts in intercuspal position, no canine contact on the working side, occlusal contact on the non-working side, or unilateral contact in retruded contact position. The results of this study suggest that pain or clicking does not necessarily tend to appear on the side of these occlusal interferences. Additionally, characteristic inclination for pain and clicking patients in terms of frequencies of occlusal interferences in relation to the symptomatic side was not identified.