Our study showed that the majority of patients with TMJ OA are middle-aged women, which is in concordance with the existing literature3. Various studies have shown conflicting results regarding the correlation between clinical signs and symptoms and radiological findings of bone changes on CBCT. However, the prevailing opinion is that this correlation is generally weak11. Additionally, as with all other bone tissues, significant demineralization is required for the changes to be radiologically visible, meaning they are often only detectable months after the clinical symptoms appear, which underestimates the true pathological degree of damage5.
The results from our research demonstrated that clinical signs can be associated with certain radiological features of OA TMJ described on CBCT and MRI examinations. However, radiological findings were also positive for OA TMJ in a significant number of asymptomatic patients . Therefore, radiological diagnostics is only important if it is adequately correlated with the clinical picture.