Abstract: Objective: To investigate the relationship between the angle of curve of Wilson (COW) and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) in teenagers. Methods: A total of 105 undergraduates who volunteered and teenage patients with TMD visiting the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January to July 2017 were recruited in the study. The subjects were divided into the TMD group and the normal control group according to the diagnostic criteria of TMD, and the subjects were examined for the symptoms of muscle pain and sounds of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The angle of curve of Wilson was measured by CBCT. Related data were analyzed statistically with one-way analysis of variance and t-test. Results: The difference was statistically significant between the COW of TMD group and the normal control. The average angle of COW in TMD group was greater. The angle of molar buccal lingual inclination at the side with TMJ sounds was significantly larger than that of the opposite side without sounds; while contralateral the angle of molar buccal lingual inclination of patients with TMJ sounds had no significant differences with those of normal groups. There was no statistically significant difference in the COW between the patients with and without muscle pain. Conclusion: TMD patients showed a deeper COW than normal controls. The angle of molar buccal lingual inclination at the side with TMJ sounds was significantly larger than the opposite side without sounds. A larger COW causes an increased risk of TMD disease. The TMD muscle pain symptoms were no significantly related to the COW.

Key words: Temporomandibular joint disorders , Curve of Wilson, Temporomandibular joint