1997 Volume 22 Issue 3 Pages 197-206
An aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between the difference in facial types and the movements, and the morphology of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The subjects were 46 persons (32 males and 14 females) aged from 22 to 34 years, who had no particular abnormality about the masticatory system. Facial types were classified into three: Brachyfacial type (B), Mesofacial type (M), and Dolichofacial type (D), by tracing the lateral roentogenographic cephalograms. The movements of mandibular condyle were recorded by the condylar movements recording system (CADIAX®), Gamma CO. Ltd., Wien, Austria), and the movements of articular disc were analyzed by using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Morphology of the TMJ was also measured by using a computed tomography (CT) and standardized radiographs of TMJ. The results obtained were as follows:
1. No difference in quantity of condylar translation in protrusive movement at the most protruded position (QCTP) was shown between the three. But the inclination of sagittal condylar path (ISCP) was steeper in B than in D.
2. Quantity of condylar translation in opening and closing movement at the maximum opening position (QCTO) and quantity of the maximum condylar rotation in opening and closing movement (QCRO) were larger in B than in D.
3. B was larger than D in quantity of non-working side condylar translation in lateral movement (QCTL) at the eccentric position.
4. Quantity of articular disc movement was larger in B than in D.
5. Maximum cross-sectional area (MCSA), horizontal condylar angle (HCAN) and angle of posterior slope of the articular eminence (APSE) were larger in B than in D.
6. Some significant TMJ correlation was found between items of movement and items of morphology.
These results suggest that facial types will be related to TMJ movements and its morphology.
