Temporomandibular joint ultrasound helps to detect changes in the cartilage and causes of discomfort in the patient, such as pain, crunching, clicking. Pathological changes in the joint can lead to a chronic form of the disease and cause a large number of complications. With the help of ultrasound, you can see the condition in which the joint capsule is located, the width of the gap, as well as the presence of pathological changes in it, the presence of fluid or neoplasms.
Temporomandibular joint ultrasound is performed for both adults and children and is a completely safe method of examination. More than 20% of people have pathologies in this joint, which can occur for various reasons, mainly with improper dental treatment, after heavy physical exertion, due to injuries. Even incorrect installation of a simple seal can cause asymmetry of the joints, which leads to a change in the position of the articular disc and the appearance of pain. Extremely often there is pain in the temporomandibular joint due to malocclusion or bruxism, since the chewing load is distributed unevenly across all teeth and causes muscle overstrain, which, of course, affects the condition of the joint.
Indications
- Inflammation and injury affecting the joint area.
- Joint dysfunction, soreness, consequences of prosthetics and dental treatment.
- The occurrence of spasms in the area near the ear, pain when chewing, when opening and closing the mouth.
- When crunching and noise effects occur, ultrasound examination of the TMJ is also indicated.
In addition to the above indications, this type of diagnosis is successfully used in oncology, traumatology, dentistry and maxillofacial surgery.
It is very important to conduct a timely ultrasound of the temporomandibular joint in order to diagnose neoplasms, identify possible oncology. Ultrasound helps to determine the condition in which the joint is located, and this examination can also be prescribed before performing prosthetics or dental implantation.
Methodology of conducting
As a rule, the procedure takes no more than 20 minutes, and no preparation is required from the patient. The patient is in a supine position, the doctor, using a special nozzle, conducts a study first in the horizontal plane, then in the projection of the frontal plane, so you can assess the condition of the TMJ head in front and behind in order to fully detect violations. The diagnostician describes the condition in which the articular disc and capsule are located, identifying possible deformities, measuring the width of the articular gap, the condition of cartilage tissue and bones, as well as possible foci of ossification or the absence of articular fluid.
Ultrasound helps to identify hematomas, the condition of muscles and ligaments. This study of the TMJ forms a fairly clear picture of the condition of the joint and helps specialized specialists determine the cause of the patient’s anxiety.
