title: Comparison of maximum mouth-opening capacity and condylar path length in adults and children during the growth period.
abstract: A group of 80 children ranging in age from 6 to 10 years (subdivided into groups 1-5 according to chronological age) has been compared with an adult group on the basis of condylar path length and maximum mouth-opening capacity. The condylar path length and the mouth-opening capacity were measured using the ultrasonic JMA-System for registration. In the development of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), condylar path length and mouth-opening capacity were found to increase with age in the juvenile group. In the oldest juvenile subgroup (subgroup 5; average age: 10.3 years) the condylar path length reached 17.6mm on the left and 17.3mm on the right. This is equivalent to 90.3% (left) and 91.1% (right) of the size in the adult group. The mean maximum mouth-opening capacity of the oldest juvenile subgroup was 56.3mm and reached 98.9% of the size in the adult group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Regensburg University Medical Center, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, Regensburg, Germany. claudia.reicheneder@gmx.net
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reicheneder
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Proff
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Baumert
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gedrange
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007568:Jaw / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D008334:Mandible / Q000254:growth & development; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D008445:Maxillofacial Development / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology