A microscopic survey of the human temporomandibular joint disc

The articular disc of the temporomandibular joint was studied in a foetuses and children group (GI), a dentate group of adults (GII) and an edentulous, elderly group of humans (GIII) by light microscopy. The main, constituent bundles of type I collagen fibres are stratified and are orientated sagittally, transversely and obliquely in the middle portion of the disc. In the thick, posterior portion, transverse bundles constitute the main feature. In the anterior portion of the disc, the fibres are sagittally and obliquely orientated. Type III. collagen fibres, intermingled with type I collagen fibres are present in all groups. The disc is cellular in nature in foetuses and children becoming more fibrous with age. Chondroid cells are observed in all portions of the discs in groups GII and GIII. Elastic fibres are numerous in GI discs and decrease in number in the disc with age. These fibres lie parallel to the collagen fibres in all three portions of the three groups.

The treatment of painful temporomandibular joint clicking with oral splints: A randomized clinical trial

Background. The authors compared the efficacy of bilateral balanced and canine guidance (occlusal) splints in the treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain in subjects who experienced joint clicking with a nonoccluding splint in a double-blind, controlled randomized clinical trial.Methods. The authors randomly assigned 57 people with signs of disk displacement and TMJ pain into three groups according to the type of splint: bilateral balanced, canine guidance and nonoccluding. The authors followed the groups for six months using analysis of a visual analog scale (VAS), palpation of the TMJ and masticatory muscles, mandibular movements and joint sounds. They used repeated analysis of variance and a XI test to test the hypothesis.Results. The type of guidance used did not influence the pain reduction; yet both occlusal splints were superior to the nonoccluding splint, on the basis of the VAS. Despite similar outcomes in relation to opening, left; lateral and protrusive movements, TMJ and muscle pain on palpation, subjects who used the occlusal splints had improved clinical outcomes. The frequency of joint noises decreased over time, with no significant differences among groups. Subjects in the groups using the occlusal splints reported more comfort.Conclusion. The type of lateral guidance did not influence the subjects'; improvement: All of the subjects had a general improvement on the VAS, though subjects in the occlusal splint groups had better results that did subjects in the nonoccluding splint group.

Effect of low-level laser therapy on pain levels in patients with temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review

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Alguns aspectos funcionais da articulação temporomandibular.

The authors emphasize the some functional characteristics of the Temporomandibular join, TMJ, and were made comparative study of the auscultatory and sphymografic techniques to TMJ examination. The findings shown that the auscultatory technique furnished important dates to preliminary diagnosis of the TMJ disfunction.

The structure of the human temporomandibular joint disc: A scanning electron microscopy study

The articular disc of the temporomandibular joint was studied in fetuses (16 to 39 weeks of intrauterine life), infants (up to 4 months of age), dentulous adults (aged 30 to 39 years), and completely edentulous adults (aged 60 to 69 years) by scanning electron microscopy. The constituent bundles of collagen fibers were stratified and were oriented anteroposteriorly, laterolaterally, and obliquely in the middle portion of the disc. A ring of laterolateral bundles constituted the main feature of the thick posterior portion. In the anterior portion of the disc, the fibers were anteroposteriorly and obliquely oriented. On the superior and inferior surfaces of the disc, a thin layer of perpendicularly arranged collagen fibers covered the underlying, thick, laterolateral oriented collagen fibers.

Evaluation of temporomandibular joint noise in partially edentulous patients.

In order to evaluate the presence of TMD (temporomandibular disorder), dissatisfaction related to the use of removable partial dentures (RPD) and the effect of the treatment on temporomandibular joint noises, 13 female patients with Kennedy class I and II mandibular arch were selected. Another 13 young, asymptomatic, dentate patients, also female, were used as reference. After four years, 38.4% were found to have a moderate or severe degree of TMD. Over the four years, the degree of TMD increased in 46.15% of the patients, was not affected in 20.07%, while in 15.38% it decreased or the patients remained free from signs and symptoms. About 30% of the patients at the second year and 46% after the fourth year, had complaints regarding retention and stability. It was concluded that there is no relationship between TMD and the condition of partially edentulous Kennedy class I and II, but patient dissatisfaction increased after the second year and temporomandibular joint noise was reduced significantly with the replacement of the teeth.

Joint sounds in complete denture wearers. Literature review.

Long-term denture wearers can present with prosthesis instability, reduced occlusal vertical dimension and incorrect positioning of the jaw. This can lead to muscular changes and joint vibration. This study presents the main considerations related to joint vibrations in partially or totally edentulous patients. Occlusal treatment improves the disc-condyle relationship in the mandibular fossa. Furthermore, a detailed clinical exam and anamnesis must be performed to identify the dysfunction and its etiology, so that appropriate treatment can be provided.

Temporomandibular joint condylar changes following maxillomandibular advancement and articular disc repositioning

Purpose To evaluate condylar changes 1 year after bimaxillary surgical advancement with or without articular disc repositioning using longitudinal quantitative measurements in 3-dimensional (3D) temporomandibular joint (TMJ) models. Methods Twenty-seven patients treated with maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) underwent cone-beam computed tomography before surgery, immediately after surgery, and at 1-year follow-up. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging before surgery to assess disc displacements. Ten patients without disc displacement received MMA only. Seventeen patients with articular disc displacement received MMA with simultaneous TMJ disc repositioning (MMA-Drep). Pre- and postsurgical 3D models were superimposed using a voxel-based registration on the cranial base. Results The location, direction, and magnitude of condylar changes were displayed and quantified by graphic semitransparent overlays and 3D color-coded surface distance maps. Rotational condylar displacements were similar in the 2 groups. Immediately after surgery, condylar translational displacements of at least 1.5 mm occurred in a posterior, superior, or mediolateral direction in patients treated with MMA, whereas patients treated with MMA-Drep presented more marked anterior, inferior, and mediolateral condylar displacements. One year after surgery, more than half the patients in the 2 groups presented condylar resorptive changes of at least 1.5 mm. Patients treated with MMA-Drep presented condylar bone apposition of at least 1.5 mm at the superior surface in 26.4%, the anterior surface in 23.4%, the posterior surface in 29.4%, the medial surface in 5.9%, or the lateral surface in 38.2%, whereas bone apposition was not observed in patients treated with MMA. Conclusions One year after surgery, condylar resorptive changes greater than 1.5 mm were observed in the 2 groups. Articular disc repositioning facilitated bone apposition in localized condylar regions in patients treated with MMA-Drep. © 2013 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.