Mandibular movement characteristics of an anterior disc displacement with reduction

• Published in: Journal of orofacial pain Vol. 16; no. 2; p. 135
• Main Authors: Huddleston Slater, James J R, Lobbezoo, Frank, Naeije, Machiel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 2002
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Auscultation; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; Female; Humans; Joint Dislocations - diagnosis; Linear Models; Male; Mandibular Condyle - physiopathology; Middle Aged; Movement; Reference Standards; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Sound; Temporomandibular Joint Disc - physiopathology; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - diagnosis
• ISSN: 1064-6655

According to the Research Diagnostic Criteria (J Craniomandib Disord 1992;6(4):301-355), an anterior disc displacement with reduction (ADD) is characterized by reciprocal clicking with the opening click occurring at a mouth opening at least 5 mm greater than that of the closing click. The aim of this study was to test whether the 5-mm criterion of the RDC is characteristic for a click due to an ADD.
From 30 participants with a unilateral ADD, recordings of mandibular movements with 6 degrees of freedom as well as joint sound recordings were made. The participants performed free open movements and loaded closing movements.
In 8 joints (27%), the 5-mm criterion was not fulfilled. For 2 participants, the click while closing occurred with an even larger mouth opening than that while opening. Recordings of the condylar movements showed that the opening clicks occurred over a broad range of the opening movement, whereas all the closing clicks occurred just before the condyle reached its terminal position in the fossa.
The 5-mm criterion of the RDC is not characteristic of all anterior disc displacements with reduction.