Pneumatized articular eminence in a cohort of orthodontic patients with different sagittal skeletal anomalies: a retrospective cone beam computed tomography study

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of pneumatized articular eminence (PAE) in dental patients using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) with respect to age, sex, and type of skeletal anomaly. The results were then compared to prevalence studies regarding PAE in the literature. Study design A retrospective study of 603 orthodontic patients aged between 6 and 24 years was performed using sagittal and coronal CBCT images at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (Erzurum, Turkey). The age, gender, skeletal anomaly, and lateral were recorded for all patients, and the types were noted for cases of PAE. The chi-squared test was used for statistical analyses. Results Sixty-four PAEs were found in 39 orthodontic patients, representing a prevalence of 6.47%. No significant differences in sex (p = 0.153), age (before and after puberty, p = 0.389), and type of skeletal anomaly were observed (p = 0.271). Conclusions A higher frequency of PAE was detected among dental patients aged 6-24 years when compared to previous studies, most likely because of the use of CBCT images. No significant relation was observed between PAE and the type of skeletal anomalies. One, however, must be aware of these structures to avoid complications in cases for which surgical treatment is planned due to the occlusion and recognize its role in the onset or perpetuation of temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

Zygomatic Air Cell Defect – Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Temporomandibular Joint Compared with Panoramic Radiographs

“…air-containing cells were extended to the roof of glenoid fossa in 51% of patients, and 12% of patients had cells extended into the articular eminence. Miloglu et al ( 16 ) investigated orthodontic patients by CBCT with a ZACD prevalence of 6.47%. In their representative study, Miloglu et al ( 17 ) included patients from oral radiology department and found ZACD using CBCT with a prevalence of 8%.…”

Zygomatic air cell defect: A case report

“…5 When CBCT was used to investigate this entity, the prevalence ranged from 6.4% to 8 %. 6,7 This indicates that the chances of visualizing this variant on a commonly employed radiographic investigation are still santy.…”