The role of ultrasound examination with diseases of the temporomandibular joints

Abstract

Dental clinical practice observes various forms of pathology of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). They often do not fit to the framework of traditional diagnose including arthritis, arthrosis, and pain dysfunction. There are collective concepts to define TMJ diseases of uncertain etiology: arthropathy, functional myoarthropathy, deformable arthropathy, neurovascular syndrome of the joint dysfunction, occlusion pathology syndrome etc. Conditions when both inflammatory and degenerative processes are found in the joint are of special difficulty in diagnostics of TMJ diseases. Arthrosis and arthritis of the TMJ are not included into the classification. Therefore, it does not promote better diagnostics and treatment of TMJ diseases. Current diagnostic methods of pathological processes occurring in the TMJ do not present a complete understanding about structural changes in the elements of the organ. The aim of the study. To study ultrasound examination (USD) of the capsule structural changes, articular disk, cortical plates of the head of the lower jaw, temporal bone and cartilaginous layer of the articular head.