Observation of three cases of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis and mandibular morphology during adolescence using helical CT.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA) is a potential cause of craniofacial deformity. If TMJ OA appears during orthodontic treatment, the mandible usually rotates posteriorly, resulting in an unsatisfactory profile, especially in patients with pre-treatment mandibular retrusion. Although it is important to confirm the kind of TMJ pathosis at the start of orthodontic treatment, the relationship between TMJ OA, condylar remodelling and changes in craniofacial morphology remains unclear because of a lack of longitudinal studies. Elucidating this relationship might allow better prediction of post-treatment craniofacial morphology. In the present case reports, helical computed tomography and cephalometry were used to analyse relationships between the pattern and location of condylar remodelling and the changes in craniofacial morphology in three patients with TMJ OA.