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11. TMJ Disc Distortion

  • Animation showing how lateral pterygoid tension distorts the disc when the condyle-disc assembly is out of centric relation position.

Purposes

  • Show why TMJ disorders are often a progressive disease.
  • How the forward pull from clenching and bruxing can cause disc distortion and breakdown.
  • Encourage early diagnosis so that the later stages of deterioration can be prevented.

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Each animation includes supporting
photos and is equipped with detailed clinical notes

distortion

Presenting

  • Point out that the joint is in a forward posture and the upper lateral pterygoid is pulling the disc forwards.
  • At each stage when the disc is shown displacing and changing shape, explain that this process usually takes place over a long period of time (at least months, more often years).
  • Each opening/closing of the jaw depicts the following situations:
    - open/close before major stretching.
    - after some stretching there is a little joint noise.
    - then an early opening and late closing click.
    - then a late opening and early closing click.
    - then no click but a jaw that is locked and it can't open more than an inch.
    - then the disc starts to thin and finally perforates causing bone on bone, possible arthritic conditions and changes in the occlusion.