Association between radiographic findings in the mandibular condyle and temporomandibular dysfunction in an elderly population.

Our aims were to study the prevalence of abnormal radiographic findings in mandibular condyles and the possible association between such findings and clinical signs and symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) and dental state. Two cohorts of 70-year-old people, 384 men and 484 women, living in Göteborg, Sweden, participated in the study. The first cohort was examined in 1972 and the other one in 1992. Besides a functional and clinical examination, a questionnaire on TMD and panoramic radiography were included. A deviation from the normal appearance of one or both condyles was found in 26% of the subjects (17% of the condyles). There was no significant difference in this respect between the two cohorts. There were in general only minor and no statistically significant differences between those with normal and deviating condylar findings with regard to various TMD signs and symptoms. The subjects in Eichner group A (with dental support in all zones) showed a slightly lower frequency of abnormal radiographic condylar findings (22%) than those in groups B (reduced dental support) and C (edentulous in one or both jaws; both B and C, 28%). It is concluded that abnormal radiographic condylar findings in these elderly people were not at all or only weakly correlated with signs and symptoms of TMD and dental status.