Anatomical modifications of the temporomandibular joint during ageing.

It is essential to know the normal and pathological changes of ageing in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) because of the frequency of pathology in this joint and the increased duration of life in current populations. A study was done on 70 TMJs harvested from 35 subjects older than 75 years. These joints were studied macroscopically, radiologically and histologically. Degenerative pathology of the TMJ affected more than 50% of the subjects studied and the disc was perforated in 7%. Ageing of the TMJ without any degenerative pathology is marked by radiographic signs which are not specific to the TMJ (cortical thinning, demineralisation). Histologically, amyloid degeneration was present in nearly 50% of TMJs studied.