Abstract:

Objective: This study aimed to examine the distribution of condyle and articular fossa shapes in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) and their relationship with each other using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Materials and Methods: CBCT scans of 134 patients (268 joints) with TMD were evaluated retrospectively. In the coronal and sagittal views, condyles were classified based on the following basic shapes: round, oval, flattened, and triangular. Shapes of the articular fossa were classified as oval, triangular, angled, and trapezoidal. The evaluation was made in the sagittal and coronal sections where the articular fossa and mandibular condyle were most clearly seen. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: Sagittal-oval and coronal-flattened condyles were seen more frequently than other shapes. Identical sagittal and coronal condyles were observed in 83 joints (30.97%). In sagittal sections, the shapes of the articular fossa were oval in 128 (47.8%), angular in 68 (25.4%), trapezoid in 50 (18.7%), and triangular in 22 (8.2%) patients. The most common fossa shape was oval in each shape of the condyles in sagittal and coronal sections. No relationship was found between gender or age groups and shapes of the articular fossa and condyle in all sections. Conclusion: Knowledge of condyle and fossa shapes may help clinicians understand morphological bone changes in patients with TMD. CBCT can be used as an accurate diagnostic tool when three-dimensional examinations of TMJ bone surfaces are necessary.

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