[Deep temperature of the temporomandibular joint region at rest]

This study was made to measure non-invasively the deep temperature of the temporomandibular joint [TMJ] region at rest. The transcutaneous probe making use of zero-heat-flow method was utilized for the deep thermometry. The following results were obtained. 1. In 20 normal male subjects, no differences of the deep temperature were recognized between the right and the left TMJ regions. 2. In 10 patients with temporomandibular disorders, the deep temperature of the symptomatic TMJ side was significantly higher than that of asymptomatic side.