S. Nordahl et al., PAIN, TENDERNESS, MANDIBULAR MOBILITY, AND ANTERIOR OPEN BITE IN RELATION TO RADIOGRAPHIC EROSIONS IN TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT DISEASE, Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, 55(1), 1997, pp. 18-22
The relationship between radiographic changes and clinical signs and s
ymptoms of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) was investigated in 39 pa
tients with joint diseases. Radiographic erosions were found in 33% of
the TMJ joints, and overall frequency of radiographic changes includi
ng remodeling was 47%. Fifty-four per cent of the patients had an ante
rior open bite (AOB). The AOB showed statistically significant correla
tion to the extension of erosion of the TMJ. Pain expressed by means o
f a visual analog scale, tenderness to palpation of the TMJ, and press
ure pain threshold showed no significant correlation to erosion, but m
andibular mobility showed significant negative correlation to erosive
changes. In conclusion, AOB is correlated with erosive radiographic ch
anges in this patient group, However, the degree of local pain and ten
derness showed no correlation to radiographic changes.