INVESTIGATIONS FOR ANALYSIS OF TEMPOROMAN DIBULAR-JOINT

For this investigation temporomandibular joint sounds of 105 patients were recorded with small microphones positioned in the external audito ry canal of the ear. This modified technique results in sensible recor dings of the joint sounds with only minimal background noise. It was p ossible to classify the sound records into different groups with chara cteristical acoustic waveforms. The statistical analysis showed signif icant associations between the acoustic data and the clinical findings . Whereas former investigations allowed only a qualitative assessment of the accoustic data in this investigation a calibration was performe d to allow an objective assessment of the joint sound levels. The resu lts showed an unexpected high volume of the temporomandibular joint so unds. The average sound level in patients with joint clicking was 98,6 dB (C). it must be discussed if these frequently high sound levels ar e capable to cause an accoustic trauma with tinnitus and a subjective loss of the hearing ability. In conclusion the analysis of temporomand ibular joint sounds seems to be a valuable aid to verify characteristi c temporomandibular joint sounds and to differentiate between stages o f a temporomandibular joint disease.