Three-dimensional analysis of the internal structure of the mandibular condyle in dentulous and edentulous jaws using micro-CT.

This study clarifies the internal structure of the mandibular condyle in dentulous and edentulous jaws; three-dimensional observation and morphological measurements were performed using micro-CT. The materials used in this study were 14 mandibular condyles each removed from the dentulous and edentulous cadavers. Internal structures of the mandibular condyle were morphologically analyzed in three anatomical planes. Additionally, morphometrical observations of the trabecular bone structure at five regions of interest and cortical bone thickness were performed. The mandibular condyle of dentulous jaws consisted predominantly of regularly aligned plate-shaped trabeculae. Conversely, edentulous jaws were predominantly irregularly aligned narrow rod-shaped trabeculae. The results of morphometrical analysis showed that trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) in the central region of the mandibular condyle most closely reflected the difference between dentulous and edentulous jaws. These results suggest that, in edentulous jaws, reduced masticatory function due to tooth loss affects the internal structures of mandibular condyle.