TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS CORRELATION TO PARAFUNCTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND ORAL TORI AND BONY EXOSTOSES

Objective: To investigate existence of oral tori and bony exostoses and their correlation/effect to temporomandibular disorders and parafunctional habits. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional descriptive and analytical study was carried out among 100 patients who attended polyclinic KOD, IIUM. Demographic background, status of oral tori, parafunctional activities (PFA) and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) were assessed. A cross analysis was done between gender, age group, oral tori, bony exostoses, temporomandibular disorder and parafunctional activities.Results: In this study, half of the patients had oral tori and bony exostoses; it was significantly seen among the female patients within 21 and 50 year old age group. In a cross analysis between PFA and TMD and oral tori and bony exostoses status, 42% of the sample who did not have both PFA and TMD also did not have both tori and bony exostoses. 4% of the sample  had both PFA and TMD but absent of both oral tori and bony exostoses. Although, PFA and TMD were considered as two groups (absent or present), there was a significant association (p<0.05) between PFA and TMD and the existence of oral tori and bony exotoses, not significant (p>0.05) when PFA and TMD as in 4 groups (both absent, only PFA, only TMD and both present). Conclusion: The study showed there is still argument on association between PFA and TMD and the existence of oral tori and bony exostoses. It may be due to  both of them are not from the same aetiology and/or small sample size.  Further study should be conducted with proper study design with adequate sample size