Assessments of inclinations of the mandibular fossa by computed tomography in an Asian population

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the inclinations of right and left sides the mandibular fossa in Asian population using computed tomography (CT) images and determine its effects according to the parameters of gender, age, and asymmetry. CT images of the heads of 198 Asian subjects [95 females aged 44.2 ± 20.7 years, range 11-88 years; and 103 males aged 44.5 ± 19.7 years, range 15-98 years] were selected. The following eight parameters characterizing the inclinations of the mandibular fossa were measured by medical imaging software: anterior and posterior inclinations on the left and right sides on a sagittal view, and medial and lateral inclinations on the left and right sides on a coronal view. The anterior inclination was significant steeper in males than in females on both the left and right sides. A moderate positive correlation was found between age and anterior inclinations on the left and right sides. None of the other parameters were significantly affected by age or gender. None of the parameters differed significantly between the right and left sides of the mandibular fossa in males, females, or all subjects. The anterior inclination of the mandibular fossa was affected by aging and gender becoming steeper in Asians males than females. Besides, there were no asymmetry in the right and left side inclinations of the mandibular fossa.

Relationship between articular eminence inclination and alterations of the mandibular condyle: a CBCT study

“…Our results agree with those reported by Wu et al, 3 who found a moderate correlation between age and AE angulation in males, and also observed a positive correlation in women. Conversely, there was no positive correlation in our study between female angles and age, which can be explained by the differences in the populations studied: Wu et al 3 evaluated 95 exams of Asian female patients (aged 11 and 88 years), whereas we analyzed 184 exams of Brazilian female patients (aged 20 to 82 years). Hence, we examined a larger sample of different ethnicity and did not include ages younger than 20 years, since the joints are not fully formed before then.…”

“…Comparing the right and left sides of the TMJ, there were no differences in the mean angulation of the AEs, which is similar to that found by Csadó et al 4 In addition, the comparison between the right and left sides in females and males also showed no statistical differences between the means of the angles, as corroborated by Wu et al 3 A tendency for the AE angle to increase above the age of 30 years was observed in males. Our results agree with those reported by Wu et al, 3 who found a moderate correlation between age and AE angulation in males, and also observed a positive correlation in women.…”

“…8 Because of its three-dimensional complexity, the TMJ cannot be accurately evaluated by images that overlap. 3,6 Currently, CBCT is the imaging modality of choice to investigate bone alterations of the TMJ, since it is possible to obtain sections of this structure on several levels. 6,15,16,17,18 Accordingly, the morphology of the osseous joint components, cortical bone integrity, and subcortical bone changes can be viewed using CBCT.…”

Correlation between Radiographic Findings, Clinical Findings and Joint Sounds of Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis Patients

“…1) Past studies reported that 41% of the population have signs related to temporomandibular disorders (TMD) such as myofascial pain, TMJ internal derangement and TMJ degeneration. 2) One of the signs of TMD is TMJ osteoarthritis (TMJ OA), 1) which causes tissue degeneration due to the imbalance between the mechanical and biological synthesis and degradation of articular cartilage chondrocytes, extracellular matrix and subchondral bone.…”

Articular Eminence Inclination in Medieval and Contemporary Croatian Population

“…Th e morphology of the articular eminence, glenoid fossa and mandibular condyle depends on numerous factors, such as changes in dentition associated with aging (tooth loss, attrition and/or increased function), degenerative changes of the glenoid fossa, masticatory stress, craniofacial growth, gender, ethnicity and the relationship between the fossa and the eminence in relation to the facial structures 4,6,[10][11][12][13] . Its functional morphology also depends on the morphological changes of the cranial base during ontogeny and hominid evolution, and mechanical properties of the craniofacial skeleton (environmental factors, food consistency and toughness) 4 .…”