Characteristics of the bone components of the temporomandibular joint and its relationship with the vertical skeletal pattern in adolescents. A computed tomography study

Aim: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a joint formed by the mandibular condyle and the glenoid cavity of the temporal bone. Several factors affect the morphology of the TMJ components. A relationship between the characteristics of the bone components of the temporomandibular joint and the craniofacial skeletal characteristics has been reported. Objective: The aim of the present study was to verify the relationship between the characteristics of the bone components of the TMJ and the vertical skeletal pattern in adolescent patients. Method: A total of 45 adolescent patients (16.20 ± 1.91 years of age), 13 males and 32 females, were divided into 3 groups according to their vertical skeletal pattern: 15 normodivergent, 15 hyperdivergent and 15 hypodivergent. The TMJ was evaluated in computed tomography (CT) images, the anteroposterior and lateromedial dimensions of the condyle and the anteroposterior dimension and high of the glenoid cavity were measured. The t-Student test was used to compare the measurements of the right and left sides and between the genders, and the ANOVA test was used to evaluate the correlation between condylar and glenoid cavity measurements with the vertical skeletal pattern and the post-hoc Turkey’s test was used to identify the correlation between groups. Results: No statistical difference was found in the measurements of the condyle and glenoid cavity on the right and left sides, so a mean between both sides was used. A statistically signifcant relationship was observed between the medial-lateral dimension of the condyle and the skeletal pattern (P = 0.000), in the paired comparisons a statistical difference of this dimension was observed between hypodivergent and hyperdivergent. The rest of the variables studied did not present a statistically signifcant difference. Conclusion:The lateromedial dimension of the mandibular condyle is greater in hypodivergent patients and lower hyperdivergent patients. The anteroposterior dimension of the condyle and the measurements of the glenoid cavity did not present a correlation with the vertical skeletal pattern in the adolescent.