Abstract
It is now considered that the occlusal disharmony is one of the causes of the temporomandibular joint pain-dysfunction syndrome. In order to investigate the relation between the temporomandibular joint disorder and the malocclusion, the experimental studies were made. A metal cast crown was set on the lower right first and second molar teeth. The histopathological changes of the temporomandibular joint were observed from 5th to 120th days. Then the crown was removed on 120th day. The subjects were investigated histopathologicaly from 30th to 180th days after the crown removal. The results were as follows : There were the findings of the waving fibers of the temporomandibular articular disc, the villi proliferation of the upper posterior synovial membrane and the singular linings of the chondrocytes, after the metal cast crown set. After removing the metal cast crown on 120th day after its setting, there were not any waving fibers of the temporomandibular articular disc, and the linings of the chondrocytes also improved completely. It was considered that the temporomandibular joint disorder following the sudden disharmony of occlusion improved clearly and gradually, after removing the inadequate prosthesis, the causal factor. The original mandibular movement was also restored.
