Abnormal Temporomandibular Joint radiographic findings in patients referred to Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

Temporomandibular Joint disorders are relatively frequent in different societies. The purpose of the present study was to determine abnormal Temporomandibular Joint radiographic findings in patients referred to Dental School, Shahid Beheshti University.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was done on 400 patients with no marked symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders who met criteria of the study. Mean age of patient was 38.38. The data was collected by taking patients history, clinical evaluation while the panoramic radiographies were taken in standard conditions viewing by means of black-colored sheets. for statistical evaluation data was analyzed by chi- square and exact fisher tests.

Flattening was the most observed abnormal finding with 16.3% incidence. Erosion, condylar hyperplasia, concavity, Bifid condyle,condylar hypoplasia and sclerosis respected were the most common abnormal findings in this study. There were no significant differences in the incidence of abnormal findings regarding the patient’s gender, dental status and occlusion, but the prevalence of abnormal radiographic findings was significantly uprising as the age of the patients increased (P<0.002).

The results demonstrated the incidence of abnormal radiographic findings in 34.4% of the patients referring to the studied center which shows a relatively high prevalence.