Background: Bifid mandibular condyle (BMC) is an extremely rare condition characterized by dublicity of the head of the mandibular condyle. Knowledge about the morphology of BMC may help to understand the development course of condyle and differential diagnosis of fractures or tumors in condylar area. The aim of this study was to examine temporomandibular joint (TMJ) hard tissue morphology of BMCs. Materials and methods: 1900 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of the mandibular condylar heads examined for the presence of bifidity. When BMC were identified, morphological assessment and measurements of bone components of TMJ were done. Results: 69 BMC were detected in 56 patients (3%). It was observed that 43 (76.8%) patients presented unilateral and 13 (23.2%) patients presented bilateral BMCs. 59.4% of condyles were mostly seen in mediolateral (ML) orientation and 40.6% of them were both ML and anteroposterior (AP) orientation. 46.4% of cases showed wide and shallow groove; 53.6% had deep and narrow groove on coronal images. 60 BMCs had osteoarthritic changes. Conclusions: CBCT is an excellent imaging modality for accurate imaging of the bony components of TMJ. Due to the widespread use of CBCT, the prevalence of BMC is likely to be higher than has been previously reported and reported new cases in literature could be useful for dentists for improving their knowledge about this variation. Keywords: temporomandibular joint bifid mandibular condyle multiheaded mandibular condyle CBCT

The objective of this study was to compare the imaging characteristics of intraosseous jaw lesions on panoramic radiographs (PAN) and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). A total of 216 intraosseous jaw lesions were analyzed according to localization, shape, size, internal structure, borders, associated nonerupted tooth, root resorption, presence of calcification, tooth displacement, affecting anatomic structures, cortical thinning, expansion, and destruction of bones. The definitive histologic diagnoses of lesions were not considered. A χ ² test, Cohen kappa coefficient, and simple kappa (κ) statistics were used in the statistical analysis. Most jaw lesions are commonly located in the posterior region, while the majority of lesions in the maxilla are found in the anterior region. CBCT was more accurate than PAN in the assessment of the border cortication, continuity of border cortication, expansion, cortical thinning, and destruction. PAN evaluation allowed the identification of the lesion’s shape, internal contents, and multilocularity, affecting the IC/IAC and causing tooth displacement. The imaging features in the posterior and mandibular regions demonstrated greater agreement compared with those in the anterior and maxillary regions. This study’s findings may guide imaging protocols for intraosseous jaw lesions. Larger studies incorporating histopathologic data are needed to confirm CBCT’s advantages over PAN in diagnosing and planning treatment for bone lesions.

Purpose: The zygomaticofacial foramen (ZFF) serves as a critical anatomical landmark in zygomatic implant surgery and facial flap procedures. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of computed tomography (CT) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in visualizing the ZFF, and to determine which imaging modality provides greater reliability for clinical and surgical planning. Methods: A total of 100 CT and 100 CBCT scans were retrospectively analyzed, providing radiological data from 400 zygomatic bones. The number and location of ZFFs were assessed by 2 independent observers. The relationship between ZFF number and variables such as side, sex, and age was statistically analyzed. Results: Computed tomography and CBCT detected a comparable number of foramina (270 and 267, respectively), with no statistically significant difference between the modalities ( P > 0.05). A significant correlation between right and left sides was observed (r = 0.672, P < 0.001), indicating a tendency for bilateral symmetry. The most common finding was the presence of a single foramen (48%), followed by 2 foramina (31.2%). Females exhibited a significantly greater number of foramina than males ( P = 0.012), whereas age showed no significant correlation. Conclusion: Both CT and CBCT provide comparable accuracy in detecting the ZFF. This finding is clinically significant as it provides an evidence-based rationale for selecting CBCT, a modality with a lower radiation dose and reduced cost, for preoperative evaluation. These results confirm that clinicians can confidently use CBCT for individualized, imaging-based surgical planning to minimize neurovascular complications without sacrificing diagnostic reliability.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiographic progression of non-surgically managed jaw lesions that remained untreated due to patient deferral or refusal of surgery. Radiographic changes were assessed using two panoramic radiographs obtained at different time points, with a focus on dimensional progression, morphological characteristics, and anatomical involvement. Materials and Methods: A total of 85 non-surgically managed intraosseous cystic and cyst-like jaw lesions were evaluated on two panoramic radiographs obtained at least one year apart. Histopathological confirmation was available for 26 of the lesions (30.6%), while the remaining cases were evaluated radiographically due to the absence of surgical intervention or accessible pathology records. Assessments included localization, size, shape, internal structure, borders, association with non-erupted teeth, root resorption, tooth displacement, involvement of anatomical structures, and cortical changes such as thinning, expansion, or destruction. Nonparametric statistical comparisons were used to assess time-dependent changes and differences between follow-up groups. Results: A total of 57 lesions occurred in the mandible and 28 in the maxilla, predominantly in the posterior regions. The mean vertical/horizontal measurements of the intraosseous lesions was found to be 10.9 ± 4.6 mm/12.2 ± 6.5 mm (Mean ± SD) on the initial panoramic radiographs (Med: 10.0–IQR: 6.50/Med: 12.0–IQR: 8.75) and 14.8 ± 5.3 mm/17.5 ± 8.3 mm (Mean ± SD) on the second panoramic radiographs (Med: 14.5–IQR: 6.75/Med: 16.0–IQR: 10.75), respectively. Both vertical and horizontal dimensions showed a statistically significant increase between the two time points (p < 0.05). Initially, 41 lesions exhibited corticated margins; at follow-up, an additional 33 non-corticated lesions developed cortication. Lesions without corticated margins on the initial images exhibited significantly greater vertical and horizontal growth than those with corticated borders (p < 0.05). Lesions followed for 3–5 years showed significantly greater dimensional changes compared with those observed for shorter or longer intervals (p < 0.05). Lesion shape, internal structure, and multilocularity remained largely stable. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this retrospective study, non-surgically managed jaw lesions showed a tendency to increase in size over time. While the development of corticated borders may be associated with reduced growth activity, panoramic radiography alone is insufficient for definitive assessment, and regular radiographic follow-up should be considered within a broader clinical context.

This study aims to evaluate the accuracy and quality of responses generated by large language model-based chatbots to frequently asked questions related to temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Ten questions were selected based on the most common inquiries made by patients with TMD to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots. The responses of four widely used AI chatbots (ChatGPT Pro, ChatGPT 3.5, Deepseek, Grok3.0) were collected. Three expert evaluators assessed each chatbot's response using a modified Global Quality Scale (GQS). A statistically significant difference was observed among the four AI chatbots (p = 0.0097; η² = 0.09). ChatGPT Pro and Grok achieved significantly higher GQS scores than DeepSeek (p = 0.037*). While some AI chatbots show potential in answering TMD-related patient questions, variability in accuracy and reliability currently limits their use in clinical settings. Further training and validation are needed before integration into patient education or clinical decision-support systems.