Cone-beam CT study of osteoarthritic alterations in the osseous components of temporomandibular joints in asymptomatic patients according to skeletal pattern, gender, and age

Publication date: Available online 6 February 2019

Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology

Author(s): Letícia Ângelo Walewski, Elen de Souza Tolentino, Fernanda Chiguti Yamashita, Lilian Cristina Vessoni Iwaki, Mariliani Chicarelli da Silva

Abstract

Objective

This study evaluated the prevalence of osteoarthritic alterations in the osseous components of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) in asymptomatic patients with different skeletal patterns, gender, and age groups in cone-beam CT (CBCT) images.

Study Design

CBCT images of 213 asymptomatic patients were assessed for the presence of any degenerative changes in the condyle and fossa/eminence complex. Each TMJ was evaluated separately and was classified as normal, indeterminate for osteoarthritis, and affected by osteoarthritis. Differences were tested using the chi-square and the Fisher's exact test (p<0.05).

Results

In total, 52.3% of the joints presented some visible alteration in the osseous components. Abnormalities were detected in 32.6% of the condyles and 31.5% of the articular fossae/eminences, and flattening was the most prevalent alteration in all classes. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of alterations in either the condyle or articular fossa/eminence among the skeletal groups for the entire sample or for the gender and age subsets.

Conclusion

There are no differences in degenerative TMJ changes in patients with or without skeletal jaw discrepancies. No differences were found when gender and age were considered.

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