New TMJ clinical data and the implication on diagnosis and treatment.

A review of the literature and the presentation of 220 patients with acute temporomandibular disorders and a control group are presented. Condylar position in the fossae is related to clinical symptoms. Ten important clinical factors were recorded and the data compared without reference to specific condylar position in the fossae and then in relation to condylar displacement groups. The significantly high incidence of posterior condylar displacement and joint pain in the patients described in this report indicates that elimination of the term joint in our definition of this disorder may be premature.