ANGLE OF THE ARTICULAR EMINENCE IN PATIENTS WITH TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT DYSFUNCTION AND ASYMPTOMATIC VOLUNTEERS

Objective. The purpose of this study was to compare structural variati ons of the temporomandibular joint anatomy between symptomatic patient s with temporomandibular joint dysfunction and asymptomatic controls. Study design, There were 74 symptomatic patients with temporomandibula r joint dysfunction, 29 asymptomatic volunteers with normal joints, an d 6 asymptomatic volunteers with disk displacement with reduction incl uded in this study. Ail subjects had bilateral high resolution magneti c resonance imaging scans performed in the sagittal (closed and opened ) and coronal (closed) positions. All subjects had right and left full profile laminagraphs, one in the centric occlusal position, and one w ith the incisors edge to edge. Results, Student-Newman-Keuls tests dem onstrated no significant angular or linear differences for depth of th e articular fossa, angle of the articular eminence, horizontal and ver tical overlap of the incisor teeth, and linear condylar translation. C onclusion. This study concludes that there are no significant differen ces in angular and linear measurements in the articular fossa of asymp tomatic volunteers and symptomatic subjects with temporomandibular joi nt dysfunction.