RADIOGRAPHIC CHANGES OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT IN PATIENTS WITH CLASS II AND CLASS III SKELETAL MALOCCLUSION BASE ON PANORAMIC RADIOGRAPHIES

Aim: Investigating relationship between changes of temporomandibular joint with occlusion condition is important in identifying fundamental factors of these changes and attempting to find appropriate methods in prevention and treatment. According to a few studies carried out in Iran, this research aimed at studying radiographic changes of temporomandibular joint and their frequency in patients with class II and class III skeletal relationship in panoramic radiographies. Materials & Method: This analytical study is retrospective and performed by radiographies of patients with both lateral cephalometry and panoramic recorded in radiology sector of dentistry department in Jondi-Shapoor university of Ahvaz. Lateral cephalometry of patients were assessed in order to determine skeletal class with STEINER and WITS analysis and divided into 3 classes of I, II, III. Then panoramic radiographies of these patients were evaluated for investigating changes of TMJ joint by two radiologists maxillofacial surgery. Results: Mostly samples of the study, 56.5%, were in occlusion class II. The most prevalent changes of temporomandibular joint belonged to: Remodeling condyle (39.2%), flattening (32.3%) and sclerosis (21%) and hyperplasia condyle (18.82). In addition, results indicated that there is significant relationship between occlusion statuses and some problems of temporomandibular joint. Conclusion: Results of this study indicated that changes of temporomandibular joint in samples had high prevalence and some disorders had higher rate in class II and class III of occlusion. Accordingly, it is recommended to perform more studies on patients considering temporomandibular joint disorders in patients with class II and class III malocclusion.