Differences in clinical and radiographic features between bilateral and unilateral adult degenerative temporomandibular joint disease: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlations of clinical findings and the severity of osseous alterations between bilateral and unilateral degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight joints from 35 adult patients with DJD were retrospectively examined. The joints were divided into two groups: bilateral DJD (BDJD) (26 joints) and unilateral DJD (UDJD) (22 joints). We collected data on patient characteristics and symptoms, including pain on palpation, limited mouth opening, pain during mandibular movement, and joint noises. Cone beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) was used to assess bony changes, including maximum condylar bone change, severity of erosion, severity of osteophytes, glenoid fossa changes, and superior joint space measurements. Data were correlated between subgroups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age or gender. However, pain on palpation was significantly more common in UDJD joints (81.8%) compared to BDJD joints (53.9%). Limitation of mouth opening was also significantly more common in BDJD cases (61.5%) compared to UDJD cases (22.7%). The number of joints with painless degeneration was more common in BDJD TMJs (38.4%) than in UDJD TMJs (9%). There was no significant difference between the two subgroups with regard to pain during mandibular movements or joint sounds and severity of bony changes. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided important results outlining clinical the clinical profiles of DJD patients. While painful degeneration was more frequent in UDJD joints, painless degeneration was higher in BDJD joints. Limitation of mouth opening was more common in BDJD patients.

Evaluation of congruency of condyle convexity and fossa concavity and interrelationship bony components in temporomandibular joint anterior dislocation.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the congruency of surface geometry of the articulating bones and morphologic differences in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) structure, between patients with TMJ anterior dislocation and healthy controls. METHODS: The study included 15 patients with TMJ anterior dislocation and 15 controls who underwent cone-beam computed tomography. The surface angle of the articular fossa (fossa-concavity) and condyle (condyle-convexity) and joint spaces were measured from both sagittal and coronal views. The articular eminence morphology and horizontal condyle position were also evaluated. RESULTS: Coronal fossa angles were significantly lower in controls than in patients (p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between coronal condyle and fossa angle values in controls and in patients' joints (p < 0.05), however, the fossa-condylar congruence was higher in controls than in patients. Superior joint space was significantly higher in controls than in patients (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in articular eminence measurements, mean condyle angle variables and condyle position between the patients and controls (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study which include lower joint congruency, higher fossa concavity and superior joint space distance in patients with anterior dislocation may be related to the inferior positioning of the condyle away from the fossa and potentially the elongation of the capsular ligament.