Evaluation of cranio-mandibular dysfunction in patients with dento-maxillary anomalies using the Helkimo index

Introduction. Dento-maxillary anomalies are characterized by changes in the size, shape, position and inclination of the morphological elements that make up the stomatognathic system. Recent studies demonstrate the fact that not only traumatic occlusion (OT) is the etiological factor of TMJ dysfunction. But muscular factors, vicious habits and dento-maxillary anomalies are also involved. Created by the Marti Helkimo in 1972 to investigate the prevalence and severity of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction. Material and method. The study was carried out on a group of 78 patients from the personal case with various dento-maxillary anomalies and TMJ suffering. We statistically processed the data obtained from the clinical examination, in order to compare the situation of patients with temporomandibular dysfunction compared to that of patients without joint disorders at the time of the initial examination. Results. Most patients with class II/2 anomalies: 42.86% presented an anamnestic index of I, and a percentage of 20.69% had a Helkimo anamnestic index of II. So with this type of anomaly, the patients indicated obvious signs of ATM dysfunction. The Helkimo anamnestic index had the highest scores in the II/2 anomaly in the female sex, followed by class II/1 anomalies in the male gender. This index correlates better with the clinical one in the female for all types of anomalies. Conclusion. The most important examination in the case of TMJ pathology is represented by the thorough clinical examination. There is a directly proportional relationship between the degree of severity of the malocclusion and the Helkimo index points.