Temporomandibular joint osseous characteristics in skeletal short and long facial types with and without temporomandibular disorders: A three-dimensional comparative study

This study sought to compare the three-dimensional osseous characteristics of the temporomandibular joint in patients with skeletal short and long facial patterns with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) presenting clinically as disc displacement with/without reduction (DDR/DDWR) and those without TMDs (non-TMD). One-hundred sixty adult patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 (n = 79) consisted of patients with DDR/DDWR, and Group 2 (n = 86) consisted of non-TMD patients. Each group was divided into skeletal short and long facial patterns following the mandibular plane inclination (MP/SN). Three-dimensional analysis was done using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography images to compare measurements of the glenoid fossa, mandibular condyles, and joint spaces between the two groups. The MP/SN showed insignificant differences between the DDR/DDWR and non-TMD groups in both patterns. Short facial patients showed significant variance in condyle length and width, while long facial patients demonstrated major differences in condyle height. Differences in condyle inclinations were observed in horizontal planes for short facial patients and in vertical and anteroposterior planes for long facial patients. Joint spaces also varied significantly in anterior, posterior, and medial spaces for long facial patients. The DDR/DDWR group with a long facial skeletal pattern exhibited significant variations in condyle dimensions, orientations, and positions, showing more anterior and inferior condylar placements, as well as differences in joint spaces. In contrast, these variations were not significant in patients with a short facial skeletal pattern.