Which of the following is NOT typically considered a contributing factor to TMD?

• A. Posture
• B. Genetics
• C. Occlusion
• D. Stress

Answer: (B)

TMD is best understood as a condition with multiple interacting influences, where mechanical, behavioral, and psychosocial factors have the most direct impact on jaw function. Poor head and neck posture can change the balance and loading of the jaw muscles, leading to muscle strain and TMJ stress that may provoke or worsen symptoms. Occlusion, or how the teeth meet, is often discussed as a contributing factor because altered bite relationships can shift forces through the joint and surrounding muscles, even though the strength of that link varies between individuals. Stress contributes by increasing muscle tension and promoting parafunctional activities like clenching or grinding, which heighten joint and muscle load and can trigger or exacerbate pain. Genetics, while it may influence pain perception or certain tissue properties, does not typically act as a direct, common driver of TMD. So, genetics is not typically considered a contributing factor in the same way that posture, occlusion, and stress are.