Assessment of Condylar Changes in Patients with Degenerative Joint Disease of the TMJ After Stabilizing Splint Therapy: A Retrospective CBCT Study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the TMJ can impact patients' quality of life and complicate orthodontic treatment. Stabilizing splints are a common conservative treatment in managing TMDs symptoms, although their long-term effects on condylar morphology are poorly studied. This study aimed to assess the impact of stabilizing splints on condyle morphology using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in patients with various stages of DJD. Forty-two condyles with pre- (T1) and post- (T2) splint therapy scans were analyzed.

METHODS

CBCT scans were sectioned into sagittal and coronal slices for condyle classification and measurement. T1 and T2 CBCTs were superimposed before linear and area measurements at different poles.

RESULTS

Our results indicate that condyles in the normal group remain unchanged after splint therapy. The majority of subjects in the degenerative groups remained in the same classification group: six out of fourteen degenerative-active patients became degenerative-repair, while three out of twenty-two degenerative-repair patients progressed to degenerative-active. There is no significant remodeling of condylar width pre- and post-splint therapy. On average, there is more bone deposition than reduction in condylar height after splint therapy, although individual variation exists.

CONCLUSIONS

Stabilizing splints offer a low-risk intervention for managing DJD and may contribute to favorable adaptive changes in the condyles.