2019 Volume 11 Issue 2 Pages 135-142
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the possibility of applying ultra-high-speed MRI to the temporomandibular joint region to clarify the movement of mandibular condyles and articular discs during mastication and quantify the distances of movement.
Materials and Methods: The subject was one male dentist who had completely dentulous jaws without any dental problem. Ultra-high-speed MRI of the subject’s temporomandibular joint region was taken during habitual opening and closing movements as a control and during movement when masticating gum and kamaboko as tests. The DICOM data was transferred to a DICOM viewer, from which the movement of the mandibular condyles and articular discs was observed and distances were quantified.
Discussion: The ultra-high-speed MRI yielded conventional information regarding the morphology and habitual opening and closing movement of the temporomandibular joints, as well as the masticatory movement of the mandibular condyles and articular discs. As a result, the movement distances of the condyles and discs could be quantified, which were found to be small values, during mastication.
Conclusion: Ultra-high-speed MRI can take many photographs consecutively. By applying it to the temporomandibular joints, it can reveal the masticatory movement of the mandibular condyles and articular discs and enable quantification of the movement distances.
