Evaluation of the Relationship Between Osteoarthritis and Morphological Changes in the Joint Structures in Temporomandibular Disorders By Cone Beam Computed Tomography.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between osteoarthritis and morphological changes in temporomandibular joint components using CBCT. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 120 patients (60 patients with clinical symptoms of TMD and 60 patients without clinical symptoms of TMD) were selected and examined. Bone degenerative changes (Osteophyte, Flattening, Sclerosis, Erosion, and Pseudocyst) and morphological characteristics of condyle and articular eminence for TMD patients and control group were determined using CBCT images The severity of degenerative bone changes was categorized into four groups; G0 (no degenerative changes), G1 (one degenerative change-mild), G2 (two degenerative changes-moderate), and G3 (three or more degenerative changes-severe). The relationship between the severity of degenerative bone changes and morphological changes in temporomandibular joint was assessed using the One-Way ANOVA test. Results: Most patients had mild degenerative changes (35.8%). The most important changes observed in patients were flattening and erosions. Moderate and severe changes in patients were significantly more than in the control group (P < 0.001). The mean of A-P Dimension and Glenoid Depth in patients was significantly lower than in the control group. A-P Dimension, Glenoid Depth substantially decrease in patients with severe changes. The highest frequency of Condylar Ratio in the posterior position was significantly related to patients with severe bone changes. Conclusion: Due to the result of the current study, the following Conclusion can be driven: (1) More severe degenerative changes in the TMD patients were higher than the control group. (2) More severe degenerative changes had effect on the morphology of joint components.