Association between Temporomandibular Joint Condylar Morphology and Habitual Chewing Side.

Abstract

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Condylar shape varies among individuals and may be influenced by developmental, occlusal, and pathological factors. Condylar shape can aid in the diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) when evaluated alongside clinical findings. This study aimed to investigate whether the shape of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is associated with habitual chewing in a sample of the Yemeni population, using panoramic radiographs. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, analytical, cross-sectional study included 200 participants (400 condyles) who attended dental clinics at the Faculty of Dentistry, Sana’a University, and private dental clinics. The habitual chewing side was determined using a self-report questionnaire included in the Case Record Form (CRF). Digital panoramic radiographs were analyzed, and the condyle was traced manually using the MicroDicom DICOM Viewer. Five condylar shape classifications were used: type 1 (round), type 2 (diamond), type 3 (bird beak), type 4 (crooked finger), and type 5 (bifid). Intra- and inter-examiner reliability were tested using Cohen’s kappa. The chi-square test was used to compare the associations among the study variables. The Fisher’s Exact Test was applied to a small sample of male participants. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Results: Among the 200 participants (180 females, 20 males; aged 18–49 years), 52.5% preferred chewing on the right side. The round condylar shape was the most prevalent overall (males: 50%; females: 50.6%), whereas the bifid shape was the least common in both sexes (males: 7.1%; females: 3.3%). No statistically significant association was observed between the preferred chewing side and condylar morphology in males (p = 0.323), females (p = 0.148), or the overall study population for the right (p = 0.097) and left condyles (p = 0.388). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it may be concluded that the round shape was the most common type among the selected group of Yemeni adults, regardless of sex or side. The least common type is bifid.
Additionally, there was no significant association between the preferred chewing side and condylar shape.