| Objective To investigate condylar position and condylar symmetry before and afterocclusal splint treatment in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD).Methods Fifteen patients with TMD were chosen from those who suffered themalocclusion into experimental group, with an equal number of asymptomaticpatients served as controls. The bilateral temporomandibular joints of all subjectswere evaluated by computed tomography (CT) imaging. Both the joint spaces and thecondylar symmetry were determined, based on the axial CT images properly chose.The centric relation (CR) of each patients from the experimental group wasregisterred. After that, the patients were instructed to wear occlusal splint fabricated inCR for half year. The condylay position and condylar symmetry before and aftertreatment were compared once more based on the CT images. All statistical analyseswere performed using SPSS17.0software package. P <0.05was consideredstatistically significant.Result The condyle of the patients from the experimental group was seated moreposteriorly, while a slight anterior condylar position was found in the control group.In the experimental group, the horizontal angle of the condyle in the symptomatic sidewas larger than that in the asymptomatic side (P <0.05). In contrast, the vertical anglewas just opposite (P <0.05). No statistically significant asymmetry was noted inmediolateral diameter, anteroposterior diameter, angle of the condylar axis, anddistance between condylar center and midsagittal. Anterior space and superior spacedecreased but posterior space increased after treatment by occlusal splint, and nostatistically significant in the horizontal angle of the condyle between two sides, aswell as the vertical angle.Conclusion Obvious posterior condylar position and vertical asymmetry exist inpatients with temporomandibular disorders. After the occlusal splint treatment, thecondyle may anteriosuperiorly shift and the condylar vertical asymmetry may also recover. |
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