Assessment of Condylar Position and Dimensions in Symptomatic TMD Patients and Asymptomatic Individuals Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Aim: to assess the effect of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) on the condylar position and dimensions by examining symptomatic TMD patients and comparing it with controls without TMD symptoms using CBCT.
Subjects and Methods: 32 patients (64 TMJs) were enrolled in this study. They were divided into symptomatic TMD group and control group without TMD symptoms; 16 of each. Corrected coronal and sagittal cuts were used to measure the anterior joint space (AJS), posterior joint space (PJS), vertical diameter (VD), and mediolateral diameter (MLD). Anterior/posterior ratio (A/P) ratio was calculated to detect the condylar position.
Results: comparing right and left sides each group; showed no statistical difference in MLD, VD, AJS, PJS and A/P ratio (P > 0.05). The comparison of both studied groups revealed that no statistical difference in MLD, VD, AJS and PJS (P > 0.05). Also, no statistical difference in anterior displacement (p-value = 0.784) between studied groups and there was a statistical difference in posterior and concentric condylar positions (p- value = 0.005) (p- value = 0.012) respectively. Controls showed 65.6% concentric position while anterior and posterior displacements were 28.10% and 6.3% respectively. Whereas, TMD patients showed concentric position and posterior displacement in an equal percentage 34.4%.
Conclusion: No statistical difference in joint space and condylar dimensions between controls and TMD patients. Nevertheless, there was a statistical difference in posterior and concentric condylar positions between studied groups. Controls showed concentric condylar position whereas, TMD group presented concentric position and posterior displacement in an equal percentage