Longitudinal study of transpharyngeal radiography in temporomandibular arthropathy.

According to appearance of the condyle on transpharyngeal radiographs temporomandibular arthropathy has a destructive phase and a reparative phase terminating in the stable state of the joint. The destructive phase is characterized by erosion. No common trait of the healing process exists as the healed condyle varies from the normal to the most irregular appearance. Once it occurs, the healing is stable. Ongoing radiologic changes take place within 1-3 years. Some technical considerations including radiation doses of the transpharyngeal projection are presented.