Routine tomography of the temporomandibular joint.

Routine lateral tomography of the temporomandibular joint has resulted in a three-fold increase in the detection of positive findings. The technique is easily accomplished, eliminates the problem of superimposition of unwanted structures, permits a true lateral view of the condyle and condylar fossa, and allows small articular surface abnormalities to be identified. Although the entrance skin dose to the patient's face in the beam is about two times greater per exposure than that for our previous conventional open and closed lateral views, we believe that the increased dose is reasonable and the resulting improved diagnostic accuracy outweighs this disadvantage.