ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to evaluate the distribution and clinical features of patients with degenerative change of the mandibular condyle. METHODS: Six thousand and seventy patients with TMD (temporomandibular disorder) were selected for this study, who had complete initial clinical records and radiographs. Panorama and TMJ panorama radiographs were used to screen the degenerative change in the condyle, and the patients were divided into DJD (degenerative joint disease) and non-DJD groups. RESULTS: The distribution and clinical features of the two groups were compared. Out of the total number of patients, 31.7% were in the DJD group, and 68.3% were in the non-DJD group. The portion of females was larger in the DJD group (80.8%) than in the non-DJD group (67.5%), and the DJD group had high prevalence in the second and third decades. Lack of incisal contact, retrusive chin, facial asymmetry, and mouth opening limitation were the chief complaints of the patients who had positive relation to DJD. CONCLUSION: Patients with an orthodontic treatment history, CO-CR discrepancy and crepitation were at possible risk of having DJD.