Vibration of the Temporomandibular Joints with Normal Radiographic Imagings: Comparison Between Asymptomatic Volunteers and Symptomatic Patients

ABSTRACT

In order to estimate the effect of a background noise during temporomandibular joint (TMJ) vibration analysis, 40 recordings from sensors not attached to subjects and sensors attached to subjects without any jaw movement were evaluated. Both of them showed very small energy density, close to 0, throughout 0 to 600 Hz and flat frequency distributions. To evaluate the vibration energy of asymptomatic TMJs with normal joint anatomy and symptomatic TMJs with normal arthrographic imagings, 20 TMJs from 10 clinically normal and asymptomatic volunteers with bilateral normal TMJ computerized tomography (CT) scanning (N-control) were analyzed at four mandibular positions. Results from intercuspal position and maximal opening were identical to the background noise. Results from closing and opening phase showed higher energy, especially below 150 Hz, than the background noise. Surface vibrations of 83 TMJs from patients with arthrographically normal imagings but having symptoms (NID) showed significantly higher energy than the N-control group above 300 Hz. When the total vibration energy (I(T)) is used to set the threshold for the separation of internal derangement, at I(T) = 2.06, the diagnostic specificity for the NID group is 75%, while the diagnostic sensitivity is 82.4% for internal derangement. At the same time, 98.3% of the N-control group was involved below the threshold.

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Notes on contributors

Shoichi Ishigaki

Dr. Shoichi Ishigaki received his D.D.S. degree from the Osaka University Faculty of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan, in 1984, and his Ph.D. degree from the Osaka University in 1988. At the Osaka University, Dr. Ishigaki is a research and clinical associate and a lecturer for the Department of Fixed Prosthodontics. He is also a visiting professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and at the Head and Neck Center, Sisters of Charity Hospital, Buffalo, New York. Dr. Ishigaki is a member of the International College of Prosthodontists, Japan Prosthodontic Society. Japanese Society for Temporomandibular Joint, Japanese Society of Stomatognathic Function, Japanese Association for Dental Science, and the Osaka University Dental Society. He has been conducting joint researches among the Osaka University Faculty of Dentistry, the State University of New York at Buffalo, and the Head and Neck Center, Sisters of Charity Hospital since 1991.

Russell W. Bessette

Dr. Russell W. Bessette received his D.D.S. degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1969, and completed training in periodontology in 1972. He received his M.D. degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1976, and completed training in general surgery and plastic surgery in 1981. He is a board-certified plastic surgeon and a clinical associate professor in the Department of Surgery (Plastic Surgery), School of Medicine and Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry. Dr. Bessette is a fellow in the American College of Surgeons, and a founding member of the American Society of Temporomandibular Joint Surgeons.

Takao Maruyama

Dr. Takao Maruyama received his D.D.S. degree from the Osaka University Faculty of Dentistry, Osaka, Japan, in 1964, and his Ph.D. degree from the Osaka University in 1968. At the Osaka University, Dr. Maruyama is a professor and chairman of the Department of Fixed Prosthodontics. He is also a visiting professor at Kyushu University Faculty of Dentistry, Iwate Medical University Faculty of Dentistry, and University of Southern California School of Dentistry. He is a member of the International Association for Dental Research, the American Equilibration Society, the International College of Prosthodontists, the Asian Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry, and the International Journal of Prosthodontics.