Signs and Symptoms of Temporomandibular Dysfunction and Radiographic Condylar Morphology in Patients with Idiopathic Condylar Resorption

Background: Little is known about the clinical characteristics of idiopathic condylar resorption (ICR). The aim of this study was to examine the signs and symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) and evaluate the morphological characteristics of the condyles in patients with ICR. Methods: Sixty patients with ICR (41 in the bilateral ICR group and 19 in the unilateral ICR group) and forty-one healthy controls were examined. Signs and symptoms of TMD were described, and three-dimensional models of the condyles were measured and analyzed. Results: In total, 81.7% of ICR patients had self-reported symptoms and 78.3% of ICR patients had objective-found signs. The anteroposterior diameter, transverse diameter, height, maximal sectional area, volume of the condyles, axial angle, and the distance from the posterior point of the condyle to the Saggittal standard line were significantly smaller in the ICR condyles compared with the controls (p < 0.05). The condylar neck angle was significantly larger in the ICR condyles compared with the controls (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Most patients with ICR had signs and symptoms of TMD. The prevalence of clicking and opening-closing deviation was significantly different between the bilateral and the unilateral ICR groups. In patients with ICR, the size of the condyles decreased significantly; the condyles also rotated inward, moved forward, and inclined posteriorly.