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[Styloid process: radiograph and craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD)]
T Jung1, H Tschernitschek, B Bremer
1Med. Hochschule Hannover, Abt. für Zahnärztliche Prothetik, D-30623 Hannover. HTS@prothetik.zmk.mh-hannover.de
Schweizer Monatsschrift Fur Zahnmedizin = Revue Mensuelle Suisse D'Odonto-Stomatologie = Rivista Mensile Svizzera Di Odontologia E Stomatologia
|September 29, 2001
Summary
Orthopantomograms have limited use for measuring styloid process (SP) length in epidemiological studies. Elongated styloid processes are not a significant cause of complaints in patients with craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD).
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Radiology
- Anatomy
Background:
- The styloid process (SP) is a bony projection below the ear.
- Elongated SP can sometimes be associated with pain and dysfunction.
- Craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) involves issues with the jaw joint and muscles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the reliability of orthopantomograms (OPTs) for measuring SP length.
- To determine the prevalence of elongated SP in patients with CMD.
- To investigate the correlation between SP length and CMD symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 700 orthopantomograms from 350 patients using two different programs (P1 and P6).
- Measurement of SP length on the obtained images.
- Correlation of radiographic SP measurements with clinical palpation findings and CMD index.
Main Results:
- SP was measurable in only 34.7% of the examined orthopantomograms.
- Mean SP length was approximately 29.1 mm (OPT1) and 30.1-30.4 mm (OPT6).
- No significant evidence found linking elongated SP to the complaints in CMD patients.
Conclusions:
- Orthopantomograms are of limited utility for large-scale epidemiological studies on SP length.
- Elongated styloid processes appear to be of negligible importance as a cause of symptoms in patients diagnosed with CMD.