Posterior bilateral condylar displacement: its diagnosis and treatment

One type of condylar displacement (posterior bilateral) was discussed as an etiologic factor in TMJ dysfunction. Joint noise, tenderness on muscle palpation, and acute TMJ pain are all considered signs of TMJ dysfunction. Any joint noise is considered to be an early dysfunctional symptom because of its higher incidence in association with palpable muscle pain or acute TMJ dysfunction. Sometimes the joint noise will immediately precede acute muscle pain and/or fluctuate with the painful symptoms. The treatment of bilateral posterior condyle displacement has been described. The mandibular anterior teeth were shortened and the maxillary posterior occlusion adjusted so that the mandible could be respositioned in an anterior position without increasing the vertical dimension of occlusion. A silver-plated maxillary cast was obtained and mounted on a semiadjustable articulator (Hanau) with a face-bow. The mandibular cast was mounted in the dysfunctional (retruded) centric relation. The articulator was moved into a protrusive position by the amount of anterior correction that is needed to reposition the condyles into the middle of the fossae symmetrically on both sides. The original TMJ radiographs provide the necessary information for this clinical judgment. Acrylic resin was placed in the space created between the condylar sphere and stop on the articulator. An acrylic resin temporary repositioning prosthesis constructed on the metal cast has two functions. It provides a therapeutic trial for the anterior condylar respositioning, and it holds the mandible in the therapeutic position while TMJ radiographs confirm the corrective position of the condyles in the fossae. After a successful 6 to 8 week trial period with remission of symptoms, a gold prosthesis was constructed on the same cast in the same therapeutic position. It remains to be seen whether, after several years, the condylar suspension system changes from a dysfunctional centric relation to a new functional centric relation in which the patient can no longer return to the posterior displaced condylar position in the fossa. Only with painstaking observations, accurate TMJ radiographs, complete documentation, and after-care can a more scientific approach to the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ dysfunctional pain syndrome be achieved.