title: Cone-beam tomography assessment of the condylar position in asymptomatic and symptomatic young individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies of the condyle-mandibular fossa relationship are common, although the role of this relationship in the development of a temporomandibular disorder remains controversial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the condyle-mandibular fossa relationship in young individuals with intact dentitions and compare it to that between individuals with and without symptoms of temporomandibular disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Volunteers were classified as asymptomatic (n=20) or symptomatic (n=20) according to research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders. Each participant underwent 2 cone beam-computed tomography scans of the middle and lower third of the face: 1 scan of the maximum intercuspation position and 1 of the centric relationship position. The distance between the condyle and mandibular fossa was measured on frontal and lateral images of the temporomandibular joint. The condylar position was compared across groups (asymptomatic, symptomatic) by using the Mann-Whitney U test (α=.05). Within each group, the condylar position was compared across maximum intercuspation and centric relationship positions by using the Mann-Whitney U test (α=.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant differences were found in condylar positions between centric relationships and maximum intercuspation in either asymptomatic or symptomatic young adults, and no significant differences were found between asymptomatic and symptomatic young adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The condyle-mandibular fossa relationships of these young adults were similar in the centric relationships and maximum intercuspation positions when evaluated by computed tomography. The presence or absence of temporomandibular disorder was not correlated with the condyle position in the temporomandibular joint.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate student, Department of Occlusion, Fixed Prosthodontics and Dental Materials, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Éverton Ribeiro
authors.initials: ÉR
authors.lastname: Lelis
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Stomatology and Radiology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: João César
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Guimarães Henriques
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Statistics, School of Mathematics, Federal University of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry of Araçatuba, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Rogério
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: de Mendonça
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Occlusion, Fixed Prosthodontics and Dental Materials, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alfredo Júlio
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fernandes Neto
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: galmeidaorto@prove.ufu.br.
authors.forename: Guilherme de Araújo
authors.initials: Gde A
authors.lastname: Almeida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016302:Centric Relation; D002508:Cephalometry; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D006801:Humans; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders; D055815:Young Adult