Condylar retrusion on the horizontal plane associated with retrusive lateral excursion

Materials and methods: Clinical records of patients complaining of temporomandibular joint disorder for whom axiographic examination had been performed were searched and analyzed retrospectively at a private practice. Only patients showing an asymmetrical gothic arch with retrusive lateral excursion in an absolute sense with respect to the frontal plane or with respect to the contralateral laterality were selected.

Results: Sixty-six clinical records of patients who had undergone axiographic examination were found. A total of 37 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. In 81.08% of the analyzed cases, there was posterior movement of the working condyle on the side in which the interincisive point showed greater retrusive laterality excursion.

Conclusion: During lateral excursion of the masticatory cycle, the balancing condyle moves in an anteromedial direction. The working condyle rotates on its axis and moves laterally. A steep lateral excursion on the frontal plane corresponds to a retrusive horizontal masticatory functional angle on the horizontal plane; a retrusive Planas functional masticatory angle tends to induce retrusion of the corresponding working condyle. Retrusion of the working condyle during the masticatory cycle may induce a force that compresses the delicate retrodiscal tissue. The clinical effect of this repeated force on the retrodiscal tissue still has to be investigated..

Editorial note: The full article was published in the 3/2018 issue of the Journal of Oral Science and Rehabilitation. It can be accessed free of charge at www.dtscience.com.

 

Interview with Dr. Andrea Papini

Dr. Papini, why did you conduct the research reported on in this paper?

For a passion of knowledge.

For what reasons could others cite your paper?

For studies dealing with masticatory function.

How could your study’s findings have an impact on dentistry?

The article’s considerations can help in the investigation of masticatory function.

What is the relevance of your study’s findings to the daily practice of a dentist?

The masticatory side evaluation can help the dentist to treat patients with temporomandibular joint disease.

What are your recommendations for further investigation of the topic of your article?

Masticatory stress of unilateral mastication could be investigated.

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