Objective: To evaluate if temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are associated with genetic polymorphisms in ESR1 and ESR2, which are genes encoding oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ). Also, we included an animal model to check if ERα and ERβ are expressed in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) during adolescence. Materials and methods: A total of 139 teenagers and 93 adults were diagnosed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMDs). The DNA was collected and the markers ESR1 and ERS2 were genotyped. Additionally, immunohistochemistry was performed in TMJ tissues from female Wistar rats during puberty. All data were submitted to statistical analysis with confidence interval of 95%. Results: Teenagers presented more disc displacement and arthralgia than adults (p < .05). The genetic polymorphism rs1256049 in ESR2 was associated with disc displacement (p = .040; OR = 10.50/95%CI 1.17–98.74) and arthralgia (p = .036; OR = 7.20/95%CI 1.10–46.88) in adults. The ERα and ERβ are expressed in rat TMJ tissues. Conclusions: We provide evidence that ESR2 is associated with TMD and could be a genetic marker for this condition in adult women. Furthermore, oestrogens receptors are presented in TMJ of adolescent female rats.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if individuals with dentofacial deformities (DFD) who require orthognathic surgery are affected more by depression and pain. A case-control study was performed with 195 individuals. In the DFD group, 145 individuals with Class II and III malocclusion requiring orthognathic surgery were selected. The control group was composed of 50 individuals with no DFD. All patients were diagnosed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). Data were analyzed with a significance level of 0.05. The DFD group more often presented severe depression (p = 0.020) and chronic pain (p = 0.017). They also presented higher prevalence of Nonspecific Physical Symptoms Including Pain (P = 0.002) and Nonspecific Physical Symptoms Excluding Pain (p = 0.002). Concerning TMD symptoms, the DFD group had more myofascial (p = 0.002) and articular pain (p = 0.041). Therefore, the results of this study suggest that depression and pain are more common in individuals with DFD requiring orthognathic surgery compared with individuals without DFD.