Unilateral posterior crossbite is not associated with TMJ clicking in young adolescents

Unilateral posterior crossbite has been considered as a risk factor for temporomandibular joint clicking, with conflicting findings. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible association between unilateral posterior crossbite and temporomandibular disk displacement with reduction, by means of a survey carried out in young adolescents recruited from three schools. The sample included 1291 participants ( 708 males and 583 females) with a mean age of 12.3 yrs (range, 10.1-16.1 yrs), who underwent an orthodontic and functional examination performed by two independent examiners. Unilateral posterior crossbite was found in 157 participants (12.2%). Fifty-three participants (4.1%) were diagnosed as having disk displacement with reduction. Logistic regression analysis failed to reveal a significant association between unilateral posterior crossbite and disk displacement with reduction (odds ratio = 1.3; confidence limits = 0.6-2.9). Posterior unilateral crossbite does not appear to be a risk factor for temporomandibular joint clicking, at least in young adolescents.