Objective: To assess the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osseous components morphology and the condyle position in patients with different sagittal skeletal relationships, sex, and age, using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: The CBCT images of 180 asymptomatic patients (60 class I, 60 class II, and 60 class III) were assessed retrospectively. Groups were also divided according to age (<40 years, n = 90; ≥40 years, n = 90) and sex (male, n = 90; female, n = 90). Right- and left-sided TMJ spaces, articular eminence inclination (AEI) and height (AEH), thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa (TRGF) and the anteroposterior position of the condyle in glenoid fossa were evaluated. Differences were tested using the analysis of variance, Tukey and t-tests (P < 0.05). Results: For condylar position, no differences were found between sex and age groups, but spatial differences existed among skeletal classes. Significant differences were found between the right and left angular position in patients with malocclusion. Class II individuals presented lower anterior articular spaces. The condyle-glenoid fossa relationship presented a moderate correlation of bilaterality. The AEI and AEH were significant lower in class III individuals and class I patients presented the lowest values for TRGF. The values of AEH, TRGF and of all joint spaces of males were higher. In individuals over the age of 40 years, the AEI and AEH measurements were significant greater. Conclusion: Sagittal skeletal relationships have a significant effect on condyle position, AEI, and AEH. The eminence inclination and height and TRGF are influenced by sex and age.

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Objectives:The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of linear measurements on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images using three software programs and different voxel sizes.Methods:Ten human mandibles with 25 silica markers were scanned for 0.250-, 0.300-, and 0.400-mm voxels in the i-CAT New Generation (Imaging Sciences International, Hatfield, PA, USA). Thirty-five linear measurements were carried out by two examiners two times on the multiplanar reconstructions in the following software programs: XoranCat version 3.1.62 (Xoran Technologies, Ann Arbor, MI, USA), RadiAnt DICOM 2.2.9 Viewer (Medixant, Poznan- Poland) and InVesalius 3.0.0 (Centro de Tecnologia da Informação Renato Archer, Campinas, SP, Brazil). The physical measurements were made by another observer two times using a digital caliper on the macerated mandibles. ANOVA test was used to compare voxels and software programs. Pearson correlation and the Bland–atman tests were used to compare physical and virtual measurements and to evaluate the accuracy of the software programs, respectively (P < 0.05).Results:There was no statistically significant difference when the measurements were compared in acquisitions with different voxel sizes analyzed in the three software programs. There was also no difference when the measurements were compared between the software programs and the digital caliper. Excellent intra- and inter-observer reliability for the markers, physical measurements, and multiplanar reconstructions were found.Conclusion:Linear measurements in the XoranCat, Radiant, and InVesalius software programs are reliable and accurate compared with physical measurements. The different acquisition protocols using different voxel sizes did not influence the accuracy of linear measurements in CBCT images.

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