Temporomandibular Joint Space Dimensions among Saudi Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders: MRI-Based Retrospective Study.

Introduction: The temporomandibular joint is a complex synovial joint in the body. It is the area in which the mandible articulates with the cranium. The temporomandibular joint space is located between the articular eminence and the glenoid fossa of the temporal bone at the base of the skull and the condylar process of the mandible. This interarticular space is divided into superior joint space (1.2 ml) and inferior joint space (0.9 ml) by the articular disc. The purpose of this study is to detect and evaluate the variations in the temporomandibular joint space among patients having temporomandibular joint disorders. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, 60 magnetic resonance imaging scans were evaluated at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between the years 2006 and 2016. Measurements were done in sagittal view in three areas: anterior, central, and posterior areas. However, coronal view readings were recorded in two different areas: medial and lateral joint spaces. All measurements were recorded at the highest point of the condyle that is perpendicular to the opposing bone. The SPSS program was used for statistical analysis. Results: The central joint space values were higher than the anterior and posterior joint spaces in both coronal and sagittal views. We also found that joint spaces among male patients were higher than female patients (right side P=0.015 and left side P=0.006). It is worth mentioning that the number of temporomandibular joint disorder female patients was more than the number of male temporomandibular joint disorder patients (52 females versus 24 males). Additionally, patients who were older than 55 years old had wider joint spaces than patients who were younger than 25 years old. Conclusion: The central joint space value was the highest among the other joint spaces on both views of magnetic resonance imaging, and the values of joint spaces among males were larger than those of females on sagittal magnetic resonance imaging. Patients with elderly temporomandibular joint disorders showed larger joint spaces than young patients. This study spotlights the importance of magnetic resonance imaging evaluation in temporomandibular joint disorder patients for a better understanding of the clinical evolution of temporomandibular disorders.

Perception, Knowledge, and Attitude of Individuals from Different Regions of Saudi Arabia toward Dental Implants and Bone Grafts.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the perception, knowledge, and attitude of individuals from different regions of Saudi Arabia toward dental implants and bone grafts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An online, self-oriented, and cross-sectional-based questionnaire with 21 items was given to 1622 individuals from different regions of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire recorded the perception, knowledge, and attitude of participants and their agreement or rejection of dental implants and various kinds of bone grafts. The responses were compared with age, sex, and educational level. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed for the collected data and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Most of the males (35.8%) and females (39.8%) reported that the major source of data regarding dental implants is friends and families. Majority of the participants (approximately 75% males and 73% females) support the idea that dental implants last for lifetime, whereas majority of the participants (approximately 49% males and 56% females) displayed their unawareness regarding materials used for dental implants. The overall acceptance rates of participants for autografts, alloplasts, xenografts from the cow, xenografts from the horse, and allografts were 40%, 15.9%, 2.5%, 2.2%, and 1.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The expense of dental implants was considered the foremost reason for avoiding the procedure. Most of the participants think that fixed dental prostheses last longer than removable prosthesis. Autograft was the most accepted bone graft, whereas allograft was the least accepted bone graft over the responded participants.