Temporomandibular joint disorders in children and adolescents
This lecture will provide an overview of the current guidelines in the practice of temporomandibular  disorders (TMDs) TMDs), with focus on the possible occurrence of such disorders in children and adolescents. Decades of clinical research have provided growing scientific evidence on the absence of relationship between features of dental occlusion or condylar position and TMDs. They also shed light on the need
to focus on neurological and psychological issues for a proper management of patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and jaw muscle pain.Whilst this evidence is fully embraced by dentists with expertise in the orofacial pain field, there are still
some c laims on a purported “clinical evidence” in suppo rt of mandibular repositioning and orthodontic finalization, on anecdotic basis and inductive reasoning. Invasive treatments in the form of irreversible occlusal changes and years long treatment are thus still proposed, against any recommendations by the
expert academies. This approach is of particular importance and assumes ethical relevance for children and adolescents, for whom any dental practice should be viewed as neutral in terms of being a risk or protective fact

Learning Objectives