Radiographic diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders

Although many of the disorders involving the temporomandibular joint and associated structures can be diagnosed clinically on the basis of the history and physical findings, there are others that require the use of various imaging techniques to make an accurate diagnosis or to determine the extent of involvement. To take maximum advantage of the benefits of these procedures, however, it is not only important for the clinician to be able to select the correct methods, but also to understand their limitations as well as their capabilities. In this article the various techniques used for imaging the hard and soft tissues of the temporomandibular joint are reviewed and recommendations are made regarding their appropriate applications.