EVALUATION OF THE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT OSSEOUS CHANGES IN PATIENTS WITH ANTERIOR OPEN BITE: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3> The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) has an important role in different human functions, including speech, mastication, and breathing. It has been found that osseous changes in the TMJ may stem from skeletal deformities of the head and neck. <h3>Objective(s)</h3> The aim of this study was to evaluate osseous changes in the TMJs of patients with an anterior open bite skeletal deformity using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). <h3>Study Design</h3> Thirty-two female patients with skeletal anterior open bite and 32 age-matched normal females (skeletal class I) were included in this study. CBCT images were retrieved from the archives. In the CBCT scans, the presence of condylar deformities, including erosion, sclerosis, flattening, and condylar osteophytes, in addition to shape of condyle head in the sagittal and coronal view, were recorded. Moreover, inclination and height of the articular eminence were measured. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 24 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL), with a confidence interval of 95%. <h3>Results</h3> The frequency of condylar head and articular eminence erosion was significantly higher in patients with open bite in comparison with the normal group (<i>P</i> < .05). A significant association was observed between the condylar head shape and the presence of open bite deformity in the coronal view, with the number of angular condylar shape being higher than that in the normal group (<i>P</i> < .05). In addition, inclination and height of the articular eminence was significantly higher in the normal group in comparison with the open bite group (<i>P</i> < .05). <h3>Discussion/Conclusions</h3> According to the present findings, osseous changes in the TMJ exist in patients with anterior open bite skeletal deformity. It was found that the shape of condyle was related to the presence of skeletal anterior open bite.