AIM: The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of the various traits of malocclusion, as well as the occurrence of associations between malocclusion , and symptoms and signs of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in children selected for orthodontic treatment . MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample was comprised of 26 Class I, 41 Class İI and 11 Class III malocclusion cases, aged 7-17 years. None of them had craniofacial anomalies or systemic muscle or joint disorders. Malocclusion traits and symptoms and signs of TMD were recorded in a questionnaire with clinical examination. The Treatment Priority Index (TPI) was used to record and measure the maloccusions.The “Malocclusion Severity Estimate” (MSE) was also used. The association between symptoms and signs of TMJ and malocclusion traits was assessed by chi-square test. RESULTS: The findings were that 12 per cent of the observed population had minor malocclusion and treatment need was slight, 55 per cent of the subjects showed definite malocclusion, 13 per cent had a severe malocclusion , 20 per cent had a very severe handicap with a mandatory treatment required.The most prevalent symptoms of TMD were headache (12.8%) and deviation in opening (10.3%).The most prevalent clinical signs of TMJ were tenderness in the posterior, middle,anterior portions of the temporal muscle(96.2%) and the sternocleidomastoid muscle(87.2%). The analysis suggest that there was a high association between mesial malocclusion and headache (x2=10.70, p<0.001).There was mo association between joint sounds and malocclusion traits.There was also an association between headache and bilateral crossbite but it was low.The tenderness of the superficial masseter muscle and sternocleidomastoid muscle were seen in children with severe malocclusion. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the symptoms and signs of TMD were significantly associated with Class III malocclusion and bilateral crossbite. In conclusion these characteristics have to be considered before starting orthodontic therapy.

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