Temporomandibular Joint Space in Skeletal Malocclusion Class II Ecuadorians: A Cone-beam Computed Tomography Study Using Image Reformatting and Interpolation

Aim: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the dimensions of the superior, anterior, and posterior joint spaces of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of Ecuadorian skeletal class I and II individuals without clinical signs of joint dysfunction on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), using a reformatting tool and cubic interpolation of images to reduce the size of the tomography voxel. Materials and methods: Forty-eight CBCT of TMJ of individuals of both sexes with no backgrounds of joint disorders were divided into two groups according to skeletal class: class I group consisting of 48 tomographic images of joints of 24 individuals with an A-point−nasion−B-point (ANB) angle (2 ± 2°), and class II group consisting of 48 tomographic images of joints of 24 individuals, with a Steiner ANB angle of more than 4°, were evaluated. The anterior joint space (AS), superior joint space (SS) and posterior joint spaces (PS) were measured by adapting the method used in a previous study. A t-student test and multiple regression analysis were applied. Results: The comparison of joint spaces between groups only showed significant differences in the superior posterior joint space (SS) between skeletal class I and class II (p = 0.038). Multiple linear regression showed the influence of sex on the superior joint space (SS): in women the superior joint space is 0.039 mm shorter than in men. Conclusions: There is a significant difference in posterior joint space between skeletal class I and class II, and females tend to have a shorter superior joint space than males. These considerations could have an impact on clinical activity. Additionally, the voxel size reduction tool of a CBCT could be a good resource for future research where high precision measurements on computed tomography scans are required. Clinical significance: Identifying the condyle position in individuals with skeletal class II characteristics is crucial, as well as comparing it with class I individuals from the same and other populations.