title: Lengths of condylar pathways measured with computerized axiography (CADIAX) and occlusal index in patients and volunteers.
abstract: The lengths of the condylar pathways during protrusive and opening movements were investigated with computerized axiography in 100 individuals. Forty-two patients suffering from anterior disk displacement with reduction (ADD) in one or both temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and 28 patients with anterior overrotation clicking (AOC) of the TMJ were compared with 30 asymptomatic volunteers. Patients suffering from ADD showed significantly shorter tracings than did the two other groups. A significant difference of length of TMJ movement between men and women was found only in one group. The occlusal indices (OI) of the three groups were assessed and compared with each other. Here, a significant difference was found between volunteers and patients suffering ADD and between volunteers and patients with AOC. Between men and women a significant difference of the OI was found in the group with AOC, women presenting higher scores than men. Except for the group of patients with ADD, who showed shorter average lengths, volunteers as well as patients with AOC, were within the normal limits given in the literature for TMJ movement lengths recorded with axiography. The results of this examination therefore indicate that when considering movement length alone no discrimination between healthy and diseased TMJ can be made.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Dental School, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gsellmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmid-Schwap
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piehslinger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Slavicek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003725:Dental Articulators; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007574:Jaw Relation Record / Q000379:methods*; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000503:physiopathology; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009068:Movement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*