Comparison of the Horizontal Condyle Angle of the Dentulous and Edentulous Patients Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare the horizontal condyle angle (HCA) between fully edentulous and dentulous patients, as well as to consider the relationship of age and gender with the HCA. This study included 50 patients aged between 25 and 76 years. Their HCAs were measured on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images using specialized software. Then, the relationships between the measured HCA and each patient’s age, gender, and dental condition were analyzed. The results of this study revealed that the patient’s gender did not have a significant effect on the HCA (p= 0.850). Additionally, the patient’s dental condition also did not have a significant effect on the HCA (p= 0.772). There was no significant relationship found between the patient’s age and the HCA, although negative correlation was found between these two aspects (r=-0.25, p= 0.865). In the literature, it has been emphasized that a higher HCA may cause the internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). In our study, as the patient’s age increased, so the HCA decreased. In other words, an increase in the HCA was not seen in the older population of patients and increased HCA may cause TMJ internal derangement for some other reasons. © 2018, Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi. All rights reserved.