Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of tem
poromandibular joint disk displacement in infants and young children.
Study design. Magnetic resonance images were obtained of the temporomandibu
lar joints in 30 infants and young children ranging in age from 2 months to
5 years (median age, 3 years; mean age, 2.5 years).
Results. All joints had normal superior disk position. The computed 95% con
fidence interval was 0.00-0.06, which implies a minimal probability that di
sk displacement would occur in this age group.
Conclusions. The result contradicts previous suggestions that temporomandib
ular joint disk displacement could represent a congenital normal anatomic v
ariant.