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Biometry of the temporomandibular joint using computerized tomography

  • Anatomic Bases of Medical, Radiological and Surgical Techniques
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Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

In the present study, we performed biometric characterization of the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) of clinically normal subjects.

Methods

Fifty-one healthy volunteers underwent high-resolution computerized tomography examination of the TMJs in the position of maximal intercuspidation according to a standardized protocol. Frontal and sagittal reconstructions were then performed to obtain measurements and indexes in three planes of space.

Results

Correlations are observed with age, gender, amplitude of mouth opening and presence of dental abrasion. The lateral stability index reflects the degree of mobility of the temporo-discal compartment of the joint. The coverage index reflects how much the mandibular condyle is inserted into the articular fossa and may be related to the risk of occurrence and severity of regressive remodeling phenomena.

Conclusions

This study supports the interest in examining morphological aspects of the TMJ and performing intra-articular measurements. The biometric examination of the TMJ has important applications in the domain of TMJ pathology.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Delegation for Clinical Research of the Montpellier University Hospital for supporting this work.

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest caused by this or other relationships in connection with this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dental Care Center, Montpellier University Hospital (UM1), 549, Avenue du Professeur Jean-Louis Viala, 34093, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Isabelle Dupuy-Bonafé & Sylvie Montal

  2. Department of Radiology, Toulouse University Hospital, 330, av. de Grande Bretagne-TSA 70034, 31059, Toulouse Cedex 9, France

    Philippe Otal

  3. Department of Neuroradiology, Montpellier University Hospital (UM1), 80 av. Augustin Fliche, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Alain Bonafé

  4. Department of Biomorphology, Health Sciences Institute (ICS), Av. Reitor Miguel Calmon s/n, Salvador, 40160-100, Brazil

    Igor L. Maldonado

  5. DINEP (Division of Neurology and Epidemiology), Federal University of Bahia, Rua Augusto Viana, 1, Salvador, 40110-060, Brazil

    Igor L. Maldonado

  6. CHU Montpellier, Centre d’Odontologie, de Soins, d’Enseignement et de Recherche Dentaires, 549, Avenue du Professeur Jean-Louis Viala, 34093, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Isabelle Dupuy-Bonafé

Authors
  1. Isabelle Dupuy-Bonafé
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  2. Philippe Otal
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  3. Sylvie Montal
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  4. Alain Bonafé
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  5. Igor L. Maldonado
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Isabelle Dupuy-Bonafé.

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Dupuy-Bonafé, I., Otal, P., Montal, S. et al. Biometry of the temporomandibular joint using computerized tomography. Surg Radiol Anat 36, 933–939 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-014-1277-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-014-1277-7

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