Condylar position and morphology are important features for temporomandibular joint (TMJ)-oriented orthodontic treatment planning. Orthodontic diagnosis, treatment, and therapeutic responses are also dependent on the skeletal pattern.1,2 Whether the occlusal relationship affects the TMJ is controversial.3 The shape of the condyle and mandibular fossa has been reported to differ according to the type of malocclusion,3,4,5 but other studies have not demonstrated this relationship.3,6,7 The vertical facial pattern is known to influence the maximum occlusal force and masticatory muscle activities.8 Stringert and Worms9 showed higher prevalence of internal derangement in patients with the hyperdivergent skeletal pattern. Relationships between the sagittal skeletal pattern and condylar position have been defined in several studies using lateral cephalometric radiographs and tomograms.10,11,12 Cohlmia et al.11 found that patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion tend to have more anteriorly positioned condyles than those with skeletal Class I malocclusion, but no difference in condylar position was discovered between Class I and Class II malocclusions. Burke et al.10 also found no correlation between facial morphology and anteroposterior condylar position in patients with skeletal Class II malocclusion.

Diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) is complicated and requires comprehensive clinical and radiographic analyses.13 The complex structure of the TMJ makes radiographic examination difficult, and accurate diagnosis requires several types of radiographic images. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) allows high-resolution imaging of TMJ structures with less radiation exposure than conventional spiral CT.14,15,16,17

Numerous efforts have been made to define relationships between facial morphology and condylar characteristics through multiplanar CT examinations of the condyle. 1,2,3,4,18,19,20 Several studies have emphasized the importance of condylar shape and volume for long-term stability after orthodontic treatment.21,22 Saccucci et al.21 reported that condylar volume and surface are correlated with mandibular divergence in young adults. However, little is known about the association between the vertical skeletal pattern and condylar position and morphology.

The purpose of this study was to compare condylar position and morphology among different vertical skeletal patterns. The null hypothesis was that these features do not differ considerably according to the vertical skeletal pattern.

Diagnostic CBCT images of 60 adult patients (120 TMJs) who visited the orthodontic clinic of Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital were reviewed. The study protocol was approved by the Hospital Ethics Review Committee (IRB 2013-1130).

The subjects were 34 women and 26 men aged 20-40 years (mean age, 25.52±4.97 years) (Table 1). Patients were included if they did not have missing teeth except third molars, severe crossbite or openbite (overbite and overjet ≥ 0 mm), functional mandibular deviation due to occlusal interference, previous orthodontic treatment, clinical signs and symptoms of TMDs, previous TMD treatment, evident dental or facial asymmetry, congenital skeletal deformity such as cleft lip and palate, and history of trauma or general condition affecting the TMJ.

For imaging, the patient was seated with the head in the natural head position, eyes focused on a point at the same level in a mirror, and teeth in centric occlusion (maximum intercuspation). All scans were acquired with an Alphard VEGAunit (Asahi Roentgen, Kyoto, Japan) set at 80 kV, 5 mAs, 15-second scan time, and 0.39-mm³ voxel size. The exposure field was 200 mm in diameter and 179 mm in height. Images were transformed to DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) format and three-dimensionally reconstructed and analyzed through OnDemand 3D Application software (Cybermed, Seoul, Korea).

The images were saved in C-mode and reoriented along the Frankfort horizontal plane on the basis of the right porion, right orbitale, and left orbitale. Both three-dimensional (3D) and cephalometric analyses were performed. The subjects were divided into three equal groups according to the angle formed by Sella-Nasion plane and mandibular plane (SN-GoMe): hypodivergent (SN-GoMe, < 22°), normodivergent (SN-GoMe, 22°-36°), and hyperdivergent (SN-GoMe, >36°) groups.

One orthodontist performed all the measurements as described by Rodrigues et al.4,23 Sagittal slices showing a clear view of the condyle and mandibular fossa with a clear continuous line of cortical bone were examined. The position of each condyle was determined by measuring the anterior, superior, and posterior joint spaces (Table 2, Figure 1). Depth of the mandibular fossa and angulation of the posterior wall of the articular tubercle were measured for identifying fossa morphology (Figure 1). Axial condylar morphology was assessed by measuring the maximum medio-lateral width, maximum antero-posterior width, and angle between the condylar axis and the midsagittal plane (condyle head angle) (Figure 2). Sagittal condylar morphology was classified as normal, flattened osteophytic, and unclassified (Figure 3); normally shaped condyles were subclassified as oval and round on the basis of their shape in the axial view (Figure 4).

Significant differences in right and left superior joint spaces, antero-posterior condyle width, medio-lateral condyle width, and condyle head angle were found between the hypodivergent and the hyperdivergent groups (Tables 4 and 5). The hypodivergent and normodivergent groups showed a significant difference only in left condyle head angle (Tables 4 and 5). In the normodivergent and hyperdivergent groups, right antero-posterior condyle width and condyle head angle were significantly different (Tables 4 and 5).

Findings of sagittal condylar morphology are shown in Table 6. The hypodivergent and hyperdivergent groups showed differences in normally shaped condyles: the hyperdivergent group had a large proportion of round condyles, whereas the hypodivergent group commonly had oval condyles (Table 7, Figure 4).

Abnormal condylar morphology was common in the hyperdivergent and hypodivergent groups. In particular, hyperdivergent facial morphology was associated with smaller antero-posterior and medio-lateral condyle widths as well as narrower condyle head angle. Further, round condyles were found in patients with hyperdivergent facial morphology, whereas oval condyles were noted in those with hypodivergent facial morphology. Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected.

The significantly smaller superior joint space in the hyperdivergent group indicates that the hyperdivergent skeletal pattern is associated with more superiorly positioned condyles. Similarly, Burke et al.10 found reduced superior joint space and posteriorly inclined condyles in preadolescent patients with skeletal Class II malocclusion and hyperdivergent tendency. They believe that this tendency reflects reduced condylar tissue, predicts decreased condylar growth potential, and eventually results in increased anterior facial height during growth and development of the nasomaxillary and dentoalveolar complex.10 The absence of a significant difference in anterior and posterior joint spaces indicate a lack of correlation between vertical facial morphology and anteroposterior condylar position.

CBCT is a powerful tool for TMD diagnosis.13,17,24 CBCT scans provide multiplanar images of the condyle and surrounding structures and can be three-dimensionally reconstructed, allowing analysis of TMJ morphology, position, and dynamics.14,25,26,27 They enable easier and more accurate visualization of complicated anatomic structures with less radiation exposure, lower operating cost, and shorter scan time than conventional spiral CT.9,10,14,26,28 In the present study, an expert orthodontist measured all the variables by using CBCT software. The software simultaneously provides sagittal, axial, coronal, and 3D reconstructed views of every landmark; measurement errors caused by inaccurate determination of key anatomic points are therefore minimized.24

The study excluded patients with TMJ dysfunction or degenerative joint diseases who had received treatment. Those without TMD history were included depending on absence of TMD symptoms. Subject selection may therefore be a limitation: the patients were not radiographically screened, so asymptomatic patients with degenerative joint diseases could have been included. Osteoarthritis, a degenerative change in joints is radiographically characterized by subcortical cysts, surface erosion, osteophytes, and/or generalized sclerosis.29 In the present study, 9 condyles showed osteophytes (5 and 4 in the hypodivergent and hyperdivergent groups, respectively). Further, 24 condyles were flattened, including 8, 4, and 12 condyles in the hypodivergent, normodivergent, and hyperdivergent groups, respectively. Because these patients did not present symptoms such as pain, clicking, and limited mouth opening, they were not excluded. Notably, osteoarthritis cannot be diagnosed by CBCT alone. Additional diagnostic tools, such as magnetic resonance imaging and clinical examination, are required for accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.

Patients requiring orthodontic treatment often have TMDs.27,30,31 Therefore, orthodontic treatment should be aimed at not only correcting tooth alignment and occlusal relationships but also normalizing condylar position. Consideration of condylar morphology and position as well as centric relation during treatment planning would yield better outcomes.

Patients with the hyperdivergent skeletal pattern tend to have smaller and more superiorly positioned condyles than those with the hypodivergent skeletal pattern. They also have narrower angle between the midsagittal plane and the condylar axis. Therefore, condylar position and morphology vary according to vertical facial morphology. This relationship should be considered for predicting and treating TMDs during orthodontic treatment.