[Diagnostic steps in disk dislocations and other frequent illnesses of the temporomandibular joint]. / Diagnostische Schritte bei Diskusluxationen und anderen häufigen Erkrankungen des Temporomandibulargelenks.

Modern diagnosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) consists of multiple steps, based on each other and amplifying one another. The first step is the clinical functional analysis, respecting general medical as well as specific dental aspects. If need arises electronic axiography, recording the movement of TMJ hingeaxis, is being added as well as occlusal analysis on mounted plaster casts. In case of open questions at this point of analysis, magnetresonance- and computer-tomographic imaging is brought in. The present paper is an overview describing the current step by step diagnosis of TMJ disorders, with special attention to luxation-reduction mechanism in the joints.

Lengths of condylar pathways measured with computerized axiography (CADIAX) and occlusal index in patients and volunteers.

The lengths of the condylar pathways during protrusive and opening movements were investigated with computerized axiography in 100 individuals. Forty-two patients suffering from anterior disk displacement with reduction (ADD) in one or both temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and 28 patients with anterior overrotation clicking (AOC) of the TMJ were compared with 30 asymptomatic volunteers. Patients suffering from ADD showed significantly shorter tracings than did the two other groups. A significant difference of length of TMJ movement between men and women was found only in one group. The occlusal indices (OI) of the three groups were assessed and compared with each other. Here, a significant difference was found between volunteers and patients suffering ADD and between volunteers and patients with AOC. Between men and women a significant difference of the OI was found in the group with AOC, women presenting higher scores than men. Except for the group of patients with ADD, who showed shorter average lengths, volunteers as well as patients with AOC, were within the normal limits given in the literature for TMJ movement lengths recorded with axiography. The results of this examination therefore indicate that when considering movement length alone no discrimination between healthy and diseased TMJ can be made.

The edentulous maxillary alveolar process in the region of the maxillary sinus--a study of physical dimension.

From 47 anatomic specimens, vertical sections were cut in the molar region, and computer-assisted measurements of both height and width of the alveolar ridge were made to assess the available bone volume for endosseous implant placement. The mean ridge heights ranged between 9.30 and 3.23 mm, the highest and lowest values being 13.8 and 0.8 mm, respectively. The ridge widths generally proved to be sufficient for placement of endosseous implants. Small knife-edge ridges are rarely found in the posterior maxilla. Reduction of the cancellous portion of the posterior maxilla seems to be influenced by the duration of edentulousness, as well as by osteoporotic changes, without being directly related to ridge configuration and bone volume.