Evaluation of the severity of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritic changes related to age using cone beam computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate and correlate with age the severity of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritic changes using cone beam CT (CBCT).

METHODS: The images of 71 patients with findings of degenerative arthritis were retrieved from the computer data base. All patients had been examined with CBCT (NewTom 9000 QR-DVT). Left and right TMJs were evaluated independently for each patient. TMJ evaluation included: (a) bony changes of the condyle (flattening, erosion, sclerosis, osteophytes, resorption); (b) joint space (normal, increased, reduced, bony contact between the condyle and the mandibular fossa); and (c) bony changes of mandibular fossa (normal, sclerosis, erosion, resorption). The radiographic findings were statistically analysed.

RESULTS: Significant differences in the mean age were found: (a) between absent and moderate erosion (P = 0.019), as well as between absent and extensive erosion (P = 0.048); (b) between absent and extensive formation of osteophyte (P = 0.003), as well as between slight and extensive formation of osteophyte (P = 0.025); (c) between normal joint space and bony contact (P = 0.0002), as well as between reduced joint space and bony contact (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Degenerative arthritis is an age-related disease. The progression and severity of osseous changes in the condylar head and mandibular fossa are increased with age. In older age groups, patients are expected to have more frequent and severe progressive degenerative bony changes due to the development of TMJ osteoarthritis than patients in younger age groups.