SUBMENTOVERTEX RADIOLOGY - CEPHALOMETRIC CONSIDERATIONS IN TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DYSFUNCTION

Controversy exists in the literature concerning the association betwee n the radiographic and the clinical features of the temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). Hence, this study reinvestigated possible correlati ons between radiographically detected asymetries and the clinical sign s and symptoms of TMD. Complete clinical and radiographic records were gathered from 52 patients sequentially referred for corrected angle t omographs of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Measurements from subm entovertex (SMV), lateral and posterior-anterior (PA) cephalographs an d corrected angle parasagittal tomographs and recorded clinical signs and symptoms of TMD were the data inputs. Significant findings were as follows: a) as the discrepancy in the posterior condyle to pogonion m easurement increased, the pogonion and both maxillary and mandibular i ncisors shifted laterally towards the shorter side; b) as the ANB angl e increased, so did the difference in condylar angle measurements betw een the two condyles; c) the side with the larger condylar angle was p ositioned forward on the SMV; and d) a perpendicular bisector (Marmary 's Centerline) of the line drawn between the right and left foramen sp inosum was found to be a reliable baseline reference for SMV analyses. No statistically significant relation was found linking specific sign s and symptoms of TMD to maxillofacial asymmetries recorded on SMV, la teral or PA cephalographs. None of the radiographic signs studied were found to be good predictors of specific signs and symptoms in TMD.