Assessment of Three Dimensional Changes in Condylar Position in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders

AIM OF THE STUDY: To assess the three dimensional changes in condylar position in patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) following splint therapy using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and Measured Condylar Displacement (MCD) device. To record the mandibular movements with an axiograph in TMD patients following treatment with stabilization splints and to compare with the asymptomatic control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of five patients with TMD having Skeletal Class II malocclusion. The mean age of the patients in the study group was 22.2 ± 2.32 years. The patients were treated with stabilization splints till the alleviation of signs and symptoms of TMD. The three dimensional changes in condylar position following splint therapy was then assessed using both MCD device and CBCT data. The mandibular movements were recorded using an axiograph and compared to asymptomatic control group. RESULTS: All TMD patients wore stabilization splints till the disappearance of signs and symptoms of TMD was evident. The duration of treatment lasted for a period of 6-12 months. The three dimensional changes in the condylar position was assessed using MCD device that showed significant reduction in CR- CO discrepancy in all three planes of space. Similar changes were evident in joint spaces assessed using CBCT data. There was no significant difference elicited in mandibular tracings recorded using mechanical axiograph between TMD patients treated with stabilization splints and asymptomatic control group. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that stabilization splints were effective for patients with TMD in terms of alleviation of signs and symptoms of TMD and decrease in CR- CO discrepancy thus seating the condyle in a more orthopaedic stable joint position. CBCT data also demonstrated similar changes in joint spaces following splint therapy and the direction of change in condylar position was found to be correlating with the MCD data. The mandibular movements assessed using an axiograph in TMD patients following splint therapy were similar to that of the asymptomatic control group