A Tomographic Study Of Air Cell Pneumatization Of The Temporal Components Of The TMJ In Patients With Temporomadibular Joint Disorders

Abstract

Pneumatization by definition is the presence or development of air filled cavities in a bone. In addition to the pneumatization of the mastoid process. However, accessory air cell may affect the whole temporal component. Conventional tomograms for 300 patients who had been referred to the radiology specialty clinic, college of dentistry, King Saud University were were examined on both sides. in this study. Pneumatization was noted in both males and females both unilaterally and bilaterally with variable distributions of air cells. Pneumatization may render the temporal component of the TMJ more fragile. Furthermore, in some cases, the roof of the glenoid fossa is extensively weakened by pneumatization. Therefore, a severe traumatic injury may cause impingement of the head of the condyle on the middle cranial fossa. Conventional tomography is recommended in patients with air cell defect in the temporal bone components of the TMJ before any surgical procedures involving the eminence to determine the extent of the pneumatization.