Temporal bone pneumatization in patients with dentofacial deformities: cone beam computed tomography study

Abstract Pneumatization in the osseous components of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) may represent a complicating factor in TMJ surgery. This study determined the prevalence and characteristics of pneumatized articular eminence (PAE) and pneumatized glenoid fossa (PGF) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of patients with and without dentofacial deformities. The CBCT of 587 asymptomatic patients (216 class I, 179 class II, 192 class III) were assessed to determine PAE and PGF. Age, sex, laterality, and type (uni/multilocular) of pneumatization were recorded. Differences were tested using the χ 2 test and binary logistic regression models ( P P P  = 0.021), with a higher frequency in class I. There were no differences according to sex, age, or laterality. The absence or lower frequency of pneumatization in class II and III patients may indicate continuous remodelling of the joint, which is submitted to abnormal occlusion forces. This knowledge is helpful for TMJ surgery planning, particularly as patients with dentofacial abnormalities may more often be candidates for TMJ surgery.