Comparison of bony changes between panoramic radiograph and cone beam computed tomographic images in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess the diagnostic validity of digital panoramic radiographs compared to cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders. METHODS: Panoramic radiograph and CBCT were taken from a total of 212 joints from 106 subjects. The joints were examined by two dentists and divided into the following six groups: normal, flattening, osteophyte formation, erosion, sclerosis, and unclassified. The sensitivity and specificity of each observer and inter-observer reliability were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The results showed relatively high intra-observer reliability in the diagnosis of both panoramic and CBCT images and the weighted Kappa indices of panoramic and CBCT images were 0.714 and 0.727, respectively. The sensitivities of panoramic images of observer A and B to CBCT images was 82.35% and 84.30%, respectively, while the specificity of observer A and B was 58.06% and 61.54%, respectively. However, guided diagnosis from panoramic and CBCT images were statistically different (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that the panoramic radiograph could be used as a primary diagnostic device to detect bony changes of temporomandibular joints in clinical orthodontics, because panoramic images showed relatively high sensitivity compared to CBCT images. However, CBCT images may be one of the best choices when a more accurate diagnosis is necessary.

Distribution and clinical features of patients with degenerative change of the mandibular condyle / 대한치과교정학회지

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.