Abstract
Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) enables the radiographic examination and evaluation of osseous changes in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of various bony changes in TMJ in patients from a wide age range as well as to evaluate the CBCT findings of TMJ osteoarthritis (OA) and correlate them with age. The study included the CBCT images of 150 patients (43 males and 107 females) who were refferred to the Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology for the evaluation of TMJs. Each TMJ was evaluated separately for the presence of any osseous changes in the condylar head or articular fossa/eminence, and for joint space narrowing. The mean age of the sample was 37.26 years (range: 10-90 years). A total of 101 (67.3%) patients presented 1 or more osseous changes. No significant differences were found between the right and left TMJs concerning the prevalence rates of osseous changes. Significant differences were found in the mean ages with regard to the absence and presence of the following findings: condylar erosion, osteophytes, loose bodies, erosion in the articular fossa, and joint space narrowing. Degenerative changes in TMJ may reflect an age-related bone remodeling process. Older patients may have more common findings of OA, such as condylar and articular erosion, osteophytes, loose joint bodies, and joint space narrowing.
Highlights
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a term that describes an age-related non-inflammatory disease starting with changes within the bone and spreading over the tissues of the joint to the subsequent degeneration of articular surfaces.[1]
No significant differences were found between the right and left temporomandibular joint (TMJ) concerning the prevalence rates of osseous changes
Excessive or continuing forces lead to the progressive degeneration of the bony articular surfaces of TMJ, which eventually results in the radiographic findings of OA, such as flattening, the formation of osteophytes and loose bodies, erosion, a reduced joint space, subcortical sclerosis, and cysts.[3]
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a term that describes an age-related non-inflammatory disease starting with changes within the bone and spreading over the tissues of the joint to the subsequent degeneration of articular surfaces.[1]. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides detailed 3-dimensional (3D) images for the diagnosis of degene rative changes in TMJ, at the same time ensuring a lower radiation dose, a shorter exposure time, a higher spatial resolution, and a lower cost as compared to computed tomography (CT).[5,6]. It is well-acknowledged that CBCT provides information about the osseous components of TMJ, it images in detail the structures of TMJ, thereby contributing to the early detection and staging of OA as well as to the monitoring of changes in the disease over time.[7]. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) enables the radiographic examination and evaluation of osseous changes in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
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