Journal of Postgraduate Medicine Medknow Publications and Staff Society of Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India ISSN: 0022-3859 EISSN: 0972-2823 Vol. 54, Num. 4, 2008, pp. 335-335

Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, Vol. 54, No. 4, October-December, 2008, pp. 335

Letter

Morphology of the temporo-mandibular joint at different ages

Das S

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan
Correspondence Address:Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan
das_srijit23@rediffmail.com

Code Number: jp08115

Related Article: jp08066

Sir,

I read with much interest the article titled ′A comparative study of the skeletal morphology of the temporo-mandibular joint of children and adults′. ^[1] The article described the differences of the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) skeletal morphology in children and adults. I appreciate the methods employed by the authors to study the TMJ.

The type of dentition (primary, secondary or mixed) has an important impact on the morphology of the TMJ in children and this factor also correlates with the signs and symptoms of the TMJ in them. ^[2] Meng et al. , ^[1] have observed that TMJ parameters of child cadavers differed significantly from those in adult volunteers. It is well known that morphological changes and degenerative changes become more pronounced with advancing age. ^[3] As the adult volunteers in the study were in their second decade, it is surprising how a difference of just one decade could lead to such significant differences.

References

1.	Meng F, Liu Y, Hu K, Zhao Y, Kong L, Zhou S. A comparative study of the skeletal morphology of the temporo-mandibular joint of children and adults. J Postgrad Med 2008;54:191-4.  Back to cited text no. 1  [PUBMED]   [BIOLINE]
2.	Muhtaroπullari M, Demirel F, Saygili G. Temporomandibular disorders in Turkish children with mixed and primary dentition: Prevalence of signs and symptoms. Turk J Pediatr 2004;46:159-63.  Back to cited text no. 2
3.	Williams PL, Bannister LH, Berry MM, Collins P, Dyson M, Dussek JE, Fergusson MW, editors. Gray's Anatomy. New York: Churchill Livingstone; 1995.  Back to cited text no. 3

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