Positional and dimensional TMJ characteristics in different temporomandibular disorders: A cross-sectional comparative study

ABSTRACT

Objective

To investigate the morphological and positional temporomandibular joint (TMJ) characteristics of different temporomandibular disorders (TMDs).

Methods

One hundred forty-three TMD patients were divided into three groups: Group 1: Myalgia (M), Group 2: Disc displacement with reduction (DDWR), and Group 3: Disc displacement without reduction (DDWOR). Three-dimensional positional and dimensional parameters of the TMJ, including mandibular fossa, condyle, and TMJ spaces were evaluated using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The significance level was p < 0.05.

Results

Mandibular condyles were significantly positioned in more vertical, posterior, and medial directions, with the reduced condylar width in the DD groups (p < 0.001). Anterior joint space was significantly higher in the DDWR group than the myalgia group; the superior joint spaces were more reduced in DD groups than the myalgia group.

Conclusion

Patients diagnosed with disc displacement showed significantly different condylar positions and joint spaces compared to the myalgia group in a skeletally comparable sample.

KEYWORDS:

• Cone beam computed tomography
• disc displacement
• myalgia
• reduction
• temporomandibular

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Human rights statement and informed consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1964 and later versions. All patients in this study signed an informed consent.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.