Condylar volume and surface in Caucasian young adult subjects

Abstract

BackgroundThere have been no quantitative standards for volumetric and surface measurements of the mandibular condyle in Caucasian population. However, the recently developed cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) system allows measurement of these parameters with high accuracy.MethodsCBCT was used to measure the condylar volume, surface and the volume to surface ratio, called the Morphometric Index (MI), of 300 temporo-mandibular joints (TMJ) in 150 Caucasian young adult subjects, with varied malocclusions, without pain or dysfunction of TMJs.ResultsThe condylar volume was 691.26 ± 54.52 mm3 in males and 669.65 ± 58.80 mm3 in, and was significantly higher (p< 0.001) in the males. The same was observed for the condylar surface, although without statistical significance (406.02 ± 55.22 mm2 in males and 394.77 ± 60.73 mm2 in females).Furthermore, the condylar volume (693.61 ± 62.82 mm3 ) in the right TMJ was significantly higher than in the left (666.99 ± 48.67 mm3, p < 0.001) as was the condylar surface (411.24 ± 57.99 mm2 in the right TMJ and 389.41 ± 56.63 mm2 in the left TMJ; t = 3.29; p < 0.01). The MI is 1.72 ± 0.17 for the whole sample, with no significant difference between males and females or the right and left sides.ConclusionThese data from temporomandibular joints of patients without pain or clinical dysfunction might serve as examples of normal TMJ's in the general population not seeking orthodontic care.

Temporomandibular joint diagnostics using CBCT

“…The volume and surface of condyles from young adult subjects without pain or TMD have been reported as values of normal TMJs for future 3D comparative studies. 92 The reliability of regional 3D registration and superimposition methods for the assessment of mandibular condyle morphology, across subjects and longitudinally, has been found to be acceptable. 93 The authors claim that subtle bony differences in 3D condylar morphology can be quantified.…”

Relación Entre el Tamaño Condilar y la Asimetría Facial Transversal en Individuos con Hiperplasia Condilar

“…You et al (2010) señalaron también que en 50 pacientes asimétricos existía un mayor tamaño vertical de cóndilo y rama mandibular unilateral siendo significativo para el cóndilo, cuerpo mandibular y proceso coronoide aunque no se preciso el origen de la asimetría. Tecco et al (2010) señalaron que el volumen condilar es significativamente influenciado al ser del lado derecho y del sexo masculino lo cual puede estar asociado también a condicionantes hormonales de ambos sexos. Saccucci et al (2012a) observaron también que cuando existían variaciones de la morfología ósea maxilo mandibular también se observaron variaciones condilares permitiendo que el volumen condilar fuese asociado significativamente con el plano mandibular bajo o elevado lo que implica muchas veces la expresión facial como síndrome largo o síndrome corto (también señalados como dolicocéfalo o braquicéfalo) (Olate et al, 2010).…”

Evaluation of mandibular condyles in children with unilateral posterior crossbite

“…20,21 The cost-benefit relationship should be taken into consideration because corrective treatment can help in eliminating the functional deviations and possible asymmetries in both the condyle, the mandibular ramus, and of the face. 22 Despite the assessment of volume and stresses on the mandibular condyle in young adults, who did not show pain or dysfunction of TMJ, Tecco et al 23 reported no statistically significant differences between the crossed and non-crossed sides. They also indicate that there is a statistical difference between genders, males presenting a slightly higher volume compared to females.…”