title: Impact of routine open-mouth osseous temporomandibular joint tomography on diagnosis and therapeutic options.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of routine open mouth osseous temporomandibular joint (TMJ) tomography on diagnosis and treatment planning of TMJ conditions. Investigating the need for such images is important to justify the additional radiation exposure imparted by such procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of patients who underwent closed- and open-mouth osseous TMJ tomography (planar film tomography up to the beginning of 2006; cone beam computed tomography from 2006 onward) were reviewed. Three examiners formulated a diagnosis and treatment plan based on the history, clinical findings, and tomography interpretation reports of closed-mouth images. Then they reviewed the interpretations of the open-mouth images and recorded whether they would change their original diagnosis and/or treatment plan on the basis of the findings. Descriptive analysis of the results was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The impact of routine open-mouth imaging on diagnosis and treatment planning was variable among the examiners. Examiners 1, 2, and 3 had a change in diagnosis in 7%, 5%, and 3% of cases, respectively, and a change in treatment plan in 1%, 1%, and 8%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Routine open-mouth osseous TMJ tomography had a minimal impact on diagnosis and treatment planning of TMJ conditions, which varied according to the treating clinician.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: Asma.alekrish@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Asma'a Abdurrahman
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Ekrish
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Eman A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: AlKofide
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Oral Diagnosis and Oral Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Maysara Dawood
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Al-Shawaf
authors.affiliation: Professor and Consultant, Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nasser S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Nooh
authors.affiliation: General Dental Practitioner, College of Dentistry, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Rawan Dammak
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Daabash
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Student, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Munerah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alsanouni
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Consultant, Private Practice, Orlando, Florida, USA; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Dania
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tamimi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy