The possible role of estrogen in the incidence of temporomandibular disorders

SummaryEpidemiologic literatures suggest that temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) are more prevalent in women than in men. It is affecting approximately 7–15% of the adult population in North America, and 80% of patients treated for TMD are women. The severity of symptoms is also related to the age of the patients. The gender and age distribution of TMD suggests a possible link between its pathogenesis and estrogen. It has been reported that estrogen could influence the development, restitution and metabolism of the temporomandibular joint and associated structures such as bone, cartilage and articular disc. Estrogen can also influence the regulative mechanism of pain. In this article, we will use the hypothesis that the overwhelming majority of patients treated for temporomandibular disorders are women and use the available literature to examine the role of estrogens in TMD.