Imaging Sci Dent.  2012 Sep;42(3):169-174. 10.5624/isd.2012.42.3.169.

Osteoarthritic changes and condylar positioning of the temporomandibular joint in Korean children and adolescents

• Cho BH
• Jung YH

• KMID: 2167435
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5624/isd.2012.42.3.169

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate the prevalence of osteoarthritic changes and condylar positioning of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in Korean children and adolescents with or without temporomandibular disorders (TMDs).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 101 asymptomatic and 181 symptomatic children and adolescents aged 10 to 18 years old were included in the study. Osteoarthritic changes such as flattening, sclerosis, osteophytes, or erosion, and the parasagittal positioning of the condyle were assessed using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.
RESULTS
The overall prevalence of osteoarthritic changes was higher in symptomatic (26.8%) than in asymptomatic adolescents (9.9%) (p<0.05). In the symptomatic group, the frequency was higher in males (33.3%) than in females (23.0%) (p<0.05). Erosion was the most common change for the symptomatic group (15.6%), whereas sclerosis was the most common change for the asymptomatic group (5.4%). Posterior condylar position was more frequently observed in the symptomatic group (p<0.05). Erosion was more common in the samples with TMJ pain or mouth opening limitations as compared to those without them (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
This study showed that osteoarthritic changes in TMJ were common in children and adolescents, with a much higher prevalence in symptomatic patients.

Keyword

Adolescent; Temporomandibular Joint; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Aged
Child
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
Female
Humans
Male
Mouth
Osteophyte
Prevalence
Sclerosis
Temporomandibular Joint
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Linear measurement of anterior (A) and posterior (P) subjective closest joint spaces.

• 

  Fig. 2 Comparison of osteoarthritic changes of TMJs and parasagittal positioning of the condyles between the asymptomatic and the symptomatic groups. *statistically significant difference between asymptomatic and symptomatic groups (p<0.05) OA: one or more osteoarthritic changes of flattening, sclerosis, osteophyte, or erosion

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