title: Degenerative changes of the temporomandibular joint. Relationship to ethnicity, sex and occlusal supporting zones based on a skull material.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The first aim of this study was to examine a contemporary human skull material for possible ethnic differences in respect of degenerative changes in the temporomandibular joints (TMJs). A second aim was to see if there was any correlation between such changes and occlusal support in any of the two groups and, if so, if this correlation was sex-related.
  
  
  METHODS
  The material consisted of 129 Caucasian skulls and 76 skulls from Afro-Americans. Ninety-four of the Caucasian skulls came from males (73%) and the corresponding figure for the Afro-Americans was 40 (53%). Their mean age at death was 46 years (range: 19-89 years) and 37 years (range: 18-70 years), respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dental status was in general poor and 13% of the Afro-Americans and 26% of the Caucasians were edentulous. Form and surface changes of the TMJs were more common in the present material compared to most previous studies. No differences could be found between the two ethnic groups in respect of degenerative joint changes in the TMJs. In men, no correlation of clinical relevance could be found between severity of joint changes and occlusal support. However, in both Caucasian and Afro-American women, such a correlation was obvious, especially in higher age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings give no evidence for any differences in the prevalence of degenerative changes in the TMJs in Caucasians and Afro-Americans. The strong correlation found between such changes and occlusal support in women but not in men might be explained by hormonal differences.
authors: Public Dental Health, Jönköping County Council, Jönköping, Sweden.
authors: Cecilia
authors: C
authors: Magnusson
authors: Mats
authors: M
authors: Nilsson
authors: Tomas
authors: T
authors: Magnusson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016302:Centric Relation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult