The History of Temporomandibular Joint Diseases and Their Treatment
摘要
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is composed of matching hinges on both sides of the jaw, right and left, which, most importantly, provide rotational and sliding movements to masticate food and to articulate speech. It is one of the most complex joints in the human body in terms of its anatomy and movements. TMJ diseases are among the most common clinical diseases in dentistry, aside from caries, periodontal disease, and malocclusion. Diseases such as anterior joint disc displacement, condylar dislocation, condylar fracture, condylar resorption, osteoarthritis, ankylosis, tumors or tumorlike lesions, congenital malformations, developmental malformations, and acquired deformities fall within the scope of surgical treatment. For patients who do not respond to non-surgical treatments, whose joints cannot be preserved, or who exhibit significant clinical symptoms or secondary moderate-to-severe dentofacial deformities, TMJ prosthetic joint replacement may be one of the most effective solutions to restore joint function and improve aesthetics.