Korean J Orthod.  2010 Dec;40(6):411-420. 10.4041/kjod.2010.40.6.411.

Changes in height and inclination of the articular eminence during the growth period

• Choi DS
• Jang IS
• Cha BK

• KMID: 1459543
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4041/kjod.2010.40.6.411

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the changes in height and inclination of the articular eminence during the growth period.
METHODS
One hundred and sixty subjects (71 males and 89 females) with a normal skeletal pattern and TMJ function, ranging in age from 5.9 to 19.7 years were divided according to their chronological age into six groups. Lateral individualized corrected TMJ tomograms were taken of all subjects, and the height and inclination of the articular eminence were measured. UNIANOVA was used to compare the differences between the age groups. Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the differences between male and female subjects.
RESULTS
The height and the inclination of the articular eminence were increased and became steeper with age, and the height and the inclination were larger in male than in female subjects.
CONCLUSIONS
Dynamic changes in the height and the inclination of the articular eminence were observed during the growth period, therefore a full understanding of the growth of the articular eminence is important for orthodontic and orthopedic treatment in this period.

Keyword

TMJ; Tomography; Articular eminence; Growth

MeSH Terms

Female
Humans
Male
Orthopedics
Temporomandibular Joint

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Lateral individualized corrected TMJ tomogram. A, 7.9 year-old male; B, 12.6 year-old male; C, 18.7 year-old male.

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  Fig. 2 Measurement of height and inclination of eminence on tomogram. A, Superior point of the fossa; B, inferior point of the articular eminence; Line BC is parallel to the Frankfort horizontal plane; Line AC is perpendicular to the Frankfort horizontal plane and represents the height of the articular eminence; α, the angle between line AB and line BC; β, the angle between the best fit line of the posterior slope of the articular eminence and line BC.

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  Fig. 3 Scattergram and regression curve for the height and inclination of the articular eminence in male and female subjects. The height and the inclination of the articular eminence was significantly increased with aging (p < 0.001).

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  Fig. 4 Growth velocity of the height and inclination of the articular eminence in male and female subjects.

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