Evaluation of the severity of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritic changes related to age using cone beam computed tomography

TLDR

Older patients are expected to have more frequent and severe progressive degenerative bony changes in the TMJ due to osteoarthritis than younger patients. The study aims to evaluate and correlate the severity of TMJ osteoarthritic changes with age using cone beam CT in 71 patients. CBCT scans (NewTom 9000 QR‑DVT) were performed on 71 patients, and each TMJ was independently assessed for condylar bony changes, joint space status, and mandibular fossa alterations. Statistical analysis revealed that age is significantly associated with greater erosion, osteophyte formation, and joint space narrowing, indicating that degenerative arthritis severity increases with age.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate and correlate with age the severity of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritic changes using cone beam CT (CBCT).The images of 71 patients with findings of degenerative arthritis were retrieved from the computer data base. All patients had been examined with CBCT (NewTom 9000 QR-DVT). Left and right TMJs were evaluated independently for each patient. TMJ evaluation included: (a) bony changes of the condyle (flattening, erosion, sclerosis, osteophytes, resorption); (b) joint space (normal, increased, reduced, bony contact between the condyle and the mandibular fossa); and (c) bony changes of mandibular fossa (normal, sclerosis, erosion, resorption). The radiographic findings were statistically analysed.Significant differences in the mean age were found: (a) between absent and moderate erosion (P = 0.019), as well as between absent and extensive erosion (P = 0.048); (b) between absent and extensive formation of osteophyte (P = 0.003), as well as between slight and extensive formation of osteophyte (P = 0.025); (c) between normal joint space and bony contact (P = 0.0002), as well as between reduced joint space and bony contact (P = 0.001).Degenerative arthritis is an age-related disease. The progression and severity of osseous changes in the condylar head and mandibular fossa are increased with age. In older age groups, patients are expected to have more frequent and severe progressive degenerative bony changes due to the development of TMJ osteoarthritis than patients in younger age groups.