title: Clinical and instrumental evaluation of the temporomandibular joint before and after surgical correction of asymptomatic skeletal class III patients.
abstract: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) morphology, the disk position, and the TMJ symptoms before and after surgical-orthodontic correction of skeletal class III malocclusion.Eleven adult patients were recruited to participate in this longitudinal study. Each patient received presurgical and postsurgical orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. Six patients were corrected exclusively through mandibular setback, whereas 5 received combined mandibular setback and maxillary advancement. All patients were investigated before and 2 years after treatment through (1) clinical examination, (2) magnetic resonance imaging, and (3) Computerized axiography (CA).The incidence of clinical signs and symptoms was reduced 2 years after surgical-orthodontic treatment, the condyle-disk relationship and TMJ appearance at magnetic resonance imaging were unchanged, and CA showed a significant improvement of TMJ border movements.Mandibular setback surgery does not appear to alter the condyle-disk relationship, whereas correction of class III malocclusion seems to improve clinical and CA signs of TMJ function. Further controls and more long-term evaluation of these patients are necessary to assess the maintenance of these improvements in time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Turin, Dental School, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Guglielmo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramieri
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Piancino
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frongia
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerbino
authors.forename: Paolo Antonio
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Debernardi
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bracco
mesh_terms: D002508:Cephalometry; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000503:physiopathology; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000379:methods*; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures; D010027:Osteotomy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult