Background/Objectives: The relationship between occlusion and temporomandibular joint is controversial in the scientific literature. The aim of this study is to evaluate the bone changes in the temporomandibular joint and surrounding bone structures and to determine the effect of malocclusions on the temporomandibular joint by making morphometric measurements in different skeletal classes using three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography images. Methods: A total of 90 patients (30 class I, 30 class II and 30 class III) were included in the study. In each skeletal pattern, condylar osseous changes were evaluated and articular eminence inclination and height, condylar diameters were measured. It was also divided into two age groups: 18–29 and 30 and over. Results: Articular eminence inclination measured with the best-fit line method was significantly higher in Class II compared with class I and III, and in individuals aged ≥30 years. Among osseous changes, only condylar flattening showed a significant age-related increase. The mediolateral condylar diameter was greater in males than females, while the anteroposterior diameter was higher in the ≥30-year age group. Conclusions: Temporomandibular joint morphology demonstrates age- and function-related adaptive remodeling, particularly in articular eminence inclination and condylar dimensions. CBCT-based assessment of these morphological features may assist clinicians in diagnosis and treatment planning, although further studies with larger prospective cohorts are warranted.

Background/Objectives: Zygomatic implants are commonly used to rehabilitate atrophic maxillae and maxillary defects, offering quicker prosthesis placement than bone grafting, but their placement requires technical precision due to the complexity of the zygomatic region. Trabecular bone quality is a key determinant of implant stability, yet data on the zygomatic bone’s microarchitecture remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate and compare trabecular bone microarchitectural features of the zygomatic bone with three reference sites (first molar region, mandibular condyle, and angle of mandible) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study screened 847 archived CBCT scans from the Ankara University Faculty of Dentistry, of which 99 systemically healthy patients aged 20–30 years were included. Trabecular bone microstructural parameters, including tissue volume, bone volume, percent bone volume, trabecular thickness, trabecular number, trabecular separation, and fractal dimension, were assessed using CTAn software at the zygomatic bone, first molar region, mandibular condyle, and angle of mandible. Results: The zygomatic bone exhibited significantly higher tissue and bone volumes than the other regions but lower percent bone volume and trabecular number; trabecular thickness and separation were greatest in the zygomatic bone, while fractal dimension values were lowest. When pooled across the four regions, significant right–left differences were also observed, with higher tissue volume and pore space on the right side. Conclusions: These findings provide baseline reference data on the zygomatic bone’s trabecular structure in a young, systemically healthy population. Further clinical studies in patient groups more representative of typical zygomatic implant candidates, including both older individuals with age-related maxillary atrophy and younger patients with trauma- or pathology-related bone loss, are needed to confirm the relevance of these findings to implant predictability and safety.

This study aimed to evaluate morphometrically the dimensions of the foramen lacerum (FL) and its spatial relationships with adjacent anatomical landmarks, including the pterygoid canal, medial and lateral pterygoid processes, foramen ovale, and the sphenooccipital junction, using dry human skulls, in order to provide anatomical guidance for defining safe working corridors in skull base surgery. Measurements were obtained bilaterally from 57 adult dry human skulls using a Vernier caliper with a precision of 0.01 mm; right–left comparisons were analyzed using Student’s t-test, and relationships between variables were assessed using Pearson correlation analysis (p<0.05). The length and width of the FL, as well as its distances to surrounding anatomical structures, were determined, and no statistically significant differences were observed between the right and left sides. Morphological evaluation revealed that Type 1 (right:71.9; left:66.7) configuration was predominant, whereas Type 3 (right:10,5; left:8,8) was rarely encountered, and partial or complete obliteration of the FL was observed in a subset of specimens. Overall, the FL demonstrated bilateral dimensional symmetry and consistent spatial relationships with neighboring skull base structures despite notable interindividual morphological variation, and these findings provide a comprehensive morphometric reference that may facilitate accurate anatomical landmark identification and support safe surgical planning in both endoscopic and open skull base procedures.