Condylar bony changes in patients with temporomandibular disorders: a CBCT study

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Radiology
• Orthodontics

Background:

• Osteoarthritis diagnosis typically relies on clinical and radiographic assessments.
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) bony changes are crucial indicators of osteoarthritis.
• Understanding these changes across all age groups is vital for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and document the spectrum of bony changes in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of patients across all age groups.
• To correlate observed bony changes with patient symptoms, particularly pain.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of clinical records and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data from 220 TMJ patients (440 TMJs).
• Systematic evaluation of condylar bony changes including sclerosis, erosion, flattening, and form deviation.
• Correlation of bony changes with chief complaints, specifically pain.

Main Results:

• Sclerosis (30.2%) and surface erosion (29.3%) were the most prevalent condylar bony changes.
• Flattening of the articular surface (25.5%) and deviation in form (13.2%) were also frequently observed.
• A significant association was found between surface erosion and reported pain (65.9% of eroded joints).

Conclusions:

• Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) reveals a high prevalence of diverse bony changes in TMJ osteoarthritis.
• The findings underscore the need for refined diagnostic guidelines for TMJ osteoarthritis, especially with increasing CBCT utilization.
• Detailed characterization of bony changes aids in understanding disease presentation and patient symptoms.