[Changes in the temporomandibular joint after orthodontic interventions]

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Orthodontics
• Radiology

Background:

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders can cause significant pain and dysfunction.
• Accurate assessment of TMJ alterations is crucial for effective treatment planning and evaluation.
• Preoperative and postoperative imaging plays a vital role in understanding treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate temporomandibular joint alterations using reproducible roentgenograms.
• To assess the utility of a specific imaging technique for demonstrating condylar displacement.
• To identify the limitations of the employed method in determining postoperative condylar position.

Main Methods:

• Utilized reproducible preoperative and postoperative roentgenograms for TMJ analysis.
• Employed the Hanel. C arch in transcranial, lateral oblique projection for film production.
• Analyzed roentgenograms to identify and quantify joint displacements.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated significant temporomandibular joint displacements, particularly in anterior and caudal directions.
• Confirmed the reproducibility of the imaging technique for assessing joint alterations.
• Highlighted limitations in definitively determining the precise postoperative position of the condyles.

Conclusions:

• The employed roentgenographic method effectively demonstrates TMJ alterations and displacements.
• The technique is valuable for assessing anterior and caudal condylar movements.
• Further methods may be required for precise determination of postoperative condylar positioning.