抄録
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal derangement and facial asymmetry.
Thirty-two patients (9 males and 23 females) with unilateral TMJ internal derangements were selected as subjects. The mean age was 25.6 years (aged 15 to 40 years). MRI was performed for each subject to identify the intraarticular pathologic status. The method involved angle and linear measurements made from a standardized frontal facial photograph. The soft tissue asymmetry evaluated by the photographs was compared with the skeletal asymmetry assessed by the posteroanterior cephalograms. The relation between soft tissue asymmetry and skeletal asymmetry was examined by Pearson's correlation coefficient test. Association between intraarticular pathologic status and asymmetry was examined by means of Spearman's correlation coefficient by rank test.
In patients with unilateral TMJ internal derangement, a significantly positive correlation was found between soft tissue asymmetry and skeletal asymmetry. The relation between soft tissue asymmetry and skeletal asymmetry significantly correlated with the pathologic stage of TMJ internal derangement.
These findings revealed that there is a significant relation between facial appearance and the progression of TMJ internal derangement.
