Aim: This umbrella review examined the impact of orthodontic treatment on temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs), highlighting key themes, research gaps, and evidence trends.Methods: A comprehensive electronic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. Eligible studies included systematic reviews, network meta-analyses, and consensus-based recommendations evaluating orthodontic interventions and TMD. Data extraction included demographics, treatment types, TMD diagnostic methods, and study findings. Quality assessment was performed using the AMSTAR 2 tool.Results: The initial search yielded 6,928 studies, reduced to 4,611 after duplicate removal. Title/abstract screening resulted in 82 articles, with 25 studies ultimately included. Orthodontic treatments, including clear aligners, functional therapy, and orthognathic surgery, showed inconsistent effects on TMD onset or progression. Non-orthodontic interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with biofeedback, splints, and cervical mobilization, consistently alleviated symptoms. Systemic conditions, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, were associated with higher TMD prevalence. Heterogeneity in study design, diagnostic criteria, and follow-up duration limited definitive conclusions.Conclusion: Orthodontic treatment does not consistently influence TMD. Management should prioritize multidisciplinary and non-orthodontic approaches. Standardized, long-term studies are needed to clarify orthodontic-TMD relationships, particularly for contemporary treatments like clear aligners and orthognathic surgery.
Azimi et al. (Mon,) studied this question.