CLINICAL AND MRI FINDINGS OF THE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT IN RELATION TO OCCLUSION IN YOUNG-ADULTS

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is excellent for visualizing soft tis sues of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), Because it has no harmful e ffects, it can be used in asymptomatic subjects. MRI and clinical find ings relating to TMJs were correlated with findings relating to occlus ion in 20 medical and dental students (13 women, 7 men) who volunteere d to participate in our study. Subjects with clinically evident joint signs such as clicking, crepitation or tenderness on palpation also ex hibited pathological MRI findings, especially in regards to configurat ion, position and function of the disk, and, often, disturbances of oc clusal relationships between the upper and lower teeth.