ABSTRACT
Purpose:
to determine the mandibular range of motions of Brazilian children, in the State of Bahia, according to age, gender and height.
Methods:
the study involved 181 schoolchildren aged 8 to 12 years, all asymptomatic for temporomandibular dysfunction, according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria / Temporomandibular Disorders, RDC / TMD. There were measurements of the range of the maximal mouth opening, right laterality, left laterality and protrusion. The measurements were made with the digital caliper Starrett Series 799. Statistical analysis was STAT version 11. Multivariate regression was applied to the measurements obtained with emphasis on gender, age and height as interfering in the mandibular range of motions (P<0.05).
Results:
1. male/height (131,45 ≥ 146,05cm); maximal mouth opening 48,07 to 50,29mm; right laterality 8,19 to 8,55mm; left laterality 7,88 to 8,51mm and protrusion 6,72 to 8,30mm. 2. Female/height (129,68 ≥ 142,64cm): maximal mouth opening 47,15 to 50,71mm; right laterality 7,27 to 8,58mm; left laterality 7,66 to 8,21mm and protrusion 6,51 to 7,22mm. 3. male/age: maximal mouth opening 47,52 to 50,84mm; right laterality 7,76 to 8,85mm; left laterality 7,93 to 9,36mm; protrusion 6,60 to 8,50mm. 4. female/age: maximal mouth opening 47,16 to 50,7mm; right laterality 7,53 to 8,60mm; left laterality 7,42 to 8,30mm; protrusion 6,41 to 7,48mm.
Conclusion:
the values of the mandibular range of motions according to age, gender and height, for the subjects studied, were described and could serve as a reference assisting the functional evaluation of the masticatory system.
Keywords:
Temporomandibular Joint; Range of Motion, Articular; Child; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
