Evaluation of the severity of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritic changes related to age using cone beam computed tomography

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate and correlate with age the severity of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritic changes using cone beam CT (CBCT). Methods: The images of 71 patients with findings of degenerative arthritis were retrieved from the computer data base. All patients had been examined with CBCT (NewTom 9000 QR-DVT). Left and right TMJs were evaluated independently for each patient. TMJ evaluation included: (a) bony changes of the condyle (flattening, erosion, sclerosis, osteophytes, resorption); (b) joint space (normal, increased, reduced, bony contact between the condyle and the mandibular fossa); and (c) bony changes of mandibular fossa (normal, sclerosis, erosion, resorption). The radiographic findings were statistically analysed. Results: Significant differences in the mean age were found: (a) between absent and moderate erosion (P  =  0.019), as well as between absent and extensive erosion (P  =  0.048); (b) between absent and extensive formation of osteophyte (P  =  0...