Nasal Deviation Associated With Temporomandibular Disorders, finds study

Researchers have found in a new study that presence of nasal deviation (ND), particularly nasal septal deviation (NSD), is associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMD), especially internal articular derangements (IAD), as well as joint clicking. These findings suggest that individuals with nasal deformities should be carefully screened for TMD and referred for further evaluation when appropriate. Further research is needed to confirm these associations.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential association between common nasal deformities (ND) and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) according to the diagnostic criteria (DC/TMD). Enrolled subjects were initially screened using the diagnostic criteria and then evaluated by an otorhinolaryngologist (ENT specialist) for the presence of nasal deformities, relative severity of these, as well as the signs and symptoms. The identified nasal deformities were categorized into four major groups: nasal septal deviation (NSD), inferior turbinate hypertrophy (ITH), a combination of both nasal septal deviation and ITH, and other deformities. The relationships between variables and differences between groups were analyzed using Χ[2] test and the Mann-Whitney U test. To identify the contribution of nasal deformity towards temporomandibular disorders diagnosis, hierarchical logistic regression analysis was conducted.