To investigate the influence of abnormal occlusion factors on the incidence of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in junior college students and to provide an etiological basis for the prevention and treatment of TMDs.

We examined the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and dental occlusion in 754 lower grade college students (male 354, female 400) at Zunyi Medical University (Zhuhai campus). A questionnaire was also administered. We analyzed the correlation between TMD and the other three factors (static abnormal occlusion, dynamical abnormal occlusion and oral parafunctional activity) from the perspective of multivariate unconditioned logistic regression and univariate unconditioned logistic regression with dummy variables.

The prevalence of TMD was 31.7%. The incidence of TMD was significantly (P＜0.05) associated with sleep bruxism (OR＝2.070), clenching (OR＝2.553), diurnal (OR＝2.642) and anterior teeth overbite (OR＝1.228). Univariate unconditioned logistics regression analysis by dummy variables was used to analyze the incidence of TMD at different deep overbites (mild, OR＝1.558; moderate, OR＝2.189; severe, OR＝3.236; P＜0.05).

The risk factors for TMD in lower grade college students included anterior teeth occlusion, sleep bruxism, clenching, and diurnal treatment. Worse deep overbite might increase the risk of TMD.