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Published on: August 22, 2022
The prevalence of bifid mandibular condyle detected in a Brazilian population
A V Menezes1, F M de Moraes Ramos, J O de Vasconcelos-Filho
1Oral Radiology, School of Dentistry of Piracicaba-UNICAMP, Brazil.
Objectives:
To determine the prevalence of bifid mandibular condyle (BMC) detected on panoramic radiographs in a Brazilian population.
Methods:
The panoramic radiographs of 50 080 radiographs taken from 1999 to 2006 were retrospectively reviewed in order to identify BMC cases.
Results:
9 (0.018%) of the 50 080 patients, 2 men and 7 women, with age ranging from 20 years to 74 years, had BMC. These conditions were unilateral in 7 (78%) subjects and bilateral in 2 (22%) subjects. All patients denied a history of any previous trauma or fracture of the mandible, pain, or trismus.
Conclusions:
BMC is an uncommon finding in a group of Brazilian subjects and, although it is rare, dentists should be aware of this condition on routine panoramic radiographs and its implications for function and appropriate treatment modalities.
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