Abstract

The temporomandibular joint is the only moveable joint in the head. It comprises the upper and lower articular surfaces, the articular disc, the articular capsule and the ligaments. The physiologically optimal skeleton relation of the articular surfaces implies that the condyles are located in the highest anterior position in the articular fossae with regularly interposed discs between the articular surfaces. The X-ray analysis was used to determine the inter-relation between the upper and lower articular surfaces of the temporomandibular joint in the totally edentulous patients with the symptoms of the temporomandibular dysfunction. The patients who came for treatment at the Clinic for Dental Prosthodontics of the School of Dentistry in Sarajevo were included in the research. The sample involves edentulous patients of both sexes at the age of 50-60 with eugnate relation of the jaws. The patients with complete edentia in the upper and lower jaws were divided into two groups–the totally edentulous patients with the symptoms of the temporomandibular dysfunction and the totally edentulous patients being free of symptoms of the temporomandibular dysfunction. All the patients included in this research underwent the following : anamnesis, a detailed clinical examination, X-ray examination of the right and the left temporomandibular joint, X-ray analysis and linear measurements of the range of the articular surfaces on the X-rays. X-rays of the temporomandibular joint were taken in the position of central occlusion. The totally edentulous patients with the symptoms of the temporomandibular dysfunction in the position of the central occlusion have the non-physiological position of the condyles in the mandibular fossa in relation to the totally edentulous patients who did not suffer the aforementioned symptoms.

Key words: totally edentulous, temporomandibular dysfunction, joint space, condyle position