Abstract
To understand the relationship between anterior disc displacement of temporomandibular joint and condylar guidance inclination, condylar movements were analyzedin 100 outpatients (27 males and 73 females, mean age: 33.6 y). To avoid the effect of contralateral condylar movement, the condylar point on the nonworking side was selected to obtain the changes of inclination for every 1.0 mm during lateral excursion.
Articular disc positions were determined in MR images both in saggital and coronal sections.
The results were as follows:
1. Steep inclination of condylar guidance could be one of the intrinsic factors of anterior disc displacement of the temporomandibular joint.
2. Inclination of condylar guidance only showed statistical significance between patients with disc displacement and those with normal disc position in the range of condylar movement from intercuspal position to 3.0 mm.
3. There was no significant difference in inclination of condylar guidance between anterior disc displacement with and withoutreduction, as well as between degrees of displacement.
