Imaging of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Abstract The temporal bone and mandible, an articular disc, a number of ligaments, and numerous related muscles make up the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) which is a unique joint that not only permits sliding motion of the surfaces in one plane but also is the only joint where both the joints work together to create the bicondylar articulation. The American Academy of Orofacial Pain defines TMDs (temporomandibular joint disorders) as an umbrella term that covers a set of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions involving the masticatory musculature, the TMJ, and/or their associated structures with several etiologies ranging from inflammation to degenerative diseases causing muscle spasm and fatigue. Since TMDs (temporomandibular joint disorders) involve muscular, skeletal, and disc components, the imaging modalities used for diagnosis should be inclusive of these components. For the sake of understanding the imaging of the joint can be categorized into modalities to visualize soft and hard tissues. Due to the involvement of both soft tissue and osseous components in TMJ disorders, it is important to carefully evaluate patients and choose the best investigative modality, as they are becoming more prevalent. The present narrative review focuses on the different imaging modalities used in temporomandibular joint disorders. Cite this article as: Nahar N, Guttal KS, Sattur AP, Nandimath K. Imaging of temporomandibular joint disorders. Essent Dent. 2024;3(3):114-120.