Evaluation of temporomandibular joint morphology according to the occlusal relationship between lower and upper dental arches using cone beam computed tomography

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) morphology according to the occlusal relationship of upper and lower dental arches on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Material and Method: This study evaluated CBCT images of 131 patients. The patients were grouped as Angle Class I, Class II and Class III based on the occlusal relationship of dental arches in CBCT images. The angle of the long axis of both condyles with each other, the angle of the long axis of the condyle with the midsagittal plane, the height and inclination of the articular eminence, and the width and depth of the glenoid fossa were measured for the right and left sides. Results: The study evaluated CBCT images of 131 patients (96 female, 35 male) with an average age of 25.06±7.99 years. No statistically significant correlation was found between age and study variables (p>0.05). There was a significant difference between the gender for articular eminence inclination and glenoid fossa depth (p<0.05). A significant difference was observed between the right and left side for articular eminence inclination, glenoid fossa width and depth (p<0.05). There was a significant difference between the study groups for articular eminence height and inclination (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that there are morphological differences in the TMJ according to the occlusal relationship of the upper and lower dental arches. This situation be considered in both physiological and pathological evaluations of TMJ anatomy. Keywords: Angle classification, Cone beam computed tomography, Morphology, Temporomandibular joint