More than 20% of the total adult population of the planet has a temporomandibular joint pathology that occurs for various reasons – due to heavy physical exertion, injuries in the process of playing sports. Dental problems contribute. Even an incorrect placement of a filling can lead to asymmetry of the temporomandibular joints. As a result, the load on one of the joints increases, which leads to displacement of the intraarticular disc and pain. Also common causes of such pathologies are malocclusion of the teeth and bruxism or contraction of the masticatory muscles in an involuntary manner.
Most often, such a pathology occurs when the ligaments inside the joint are torn or stretched, which changes the position of the disc. The disease is difficult to see with the use of ordinary radiography, which, moreover, is not entirely desirable for the parotid salivary glands located near the temporomandibular joints.
In this case, ultrasound examination of the temporomandibular joint area helps specialists to assess functional and structural disorders, identify pathological processes in all elements in a safe and inexpensive way.
Indications for ultrasound of the selected area
In order for the patient to undergo the necessary examination, the medical institution must have an appropriate ultrasound machine, as well as a trained diagnostician.
The main indications for ultrasound examination of the temporomandibular joint are inflammation and trauma in this area, as well as neoplasms, impaired functionality of the joints, prevention of complications in the treatment of dental pathologies and prosthetics.
Complaints of patients with diseases of this area are soreness of the parotid space, difficulty in chewing food, opening or closing the mouth, crunching in the joints, dizziness and pain in the head, spasms in the throat, creaking of teeth at night, the occurrence of noise effects in the ears. It happens that with such pathologies in patients, asymmetry of facial features is observed.
The direction for the passage of ultrasound diagnostics of the temporomandibular joint is given to patients:
- oncologists;
- traumatologists;
- orthopedists;
- dentists;
- maxillofacial surgeons.
Conduct and results of the survey
In order to undergo this type of ultrasound examination, the patient does not need to somehow specially prepare for it. Diagnostics has no contraindications, so alternative research methods are rarely used.
During the ultrasound, the patient should lie on his back. The doctor alternately asks the patient to turn his head to the left and right. At the same time, the sensor of the ultrasound apparatus is kept under the zygomatic arch in order to track the condition, up to the ear tragus. Left and right, it is necessary to conduct a study in the horizontal plane, as well as in several projections of the frontal position – this way the state of the head of the temporomandibular joint is determined in front and behind. Also, in order to competently and fully identify all violations of the required functions in each plane under study, the patient is constantly asked to open, close or slightly open his mouth.
After the end of the ultrasound examination, the diagnostician begins to decipher the results. To prepare an appropriate conclusion, a specialist needs to describe the state of the articular disc, the capsule of the temporomandibular joint, the occurrence of various deformities, measure the width of the joint space, as well as identify and describe the presence of deformations of the surfaces of the joints in the heads of the bones and pathological foci of ossification identified in them.
The conclusions also describe the integrity of the ligaments and muscle tissue, assess the presence of fluid in the joints, and measure the ratio of the disc, head and articular tubercle at rest or mobility. All identified hematomas or neoplasms (tumors) must be indicated.
These ultrasound results must be provided to the doctor who issued the patient a referral for diagnosis, so that he can accurately diagnose and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
Thus, ultrasound examination of the temporomandibular joint is more accessible than all other diagnostic methods for examining this organ. There are no contraindications for ultrasound, it can be used repeatedly, it does not pose a threat to the influence of radiation exposure on the human body. Gives a highly informative picture of the state of the study area in dynamic or static modes. The procedure is absolutely painless, the equipment for its implementation is available in almost every medical institution.