Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) in patients from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Cuenca during the period 2017-2023. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted, evaluating 201 computed tomography scans obtained from the Imaging Department of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Cuenca from 2017 to 2023. A total of 402 temporomandibular joints were analyzed for imaging characteristics such as subarticular bone erosion, articular flattening, osteophytes, subchondral cysts, and sclerosis. RESULTS: The prevalence of OA was 31.1%, with 8.5% of male patients and 22.6% of female patients diagnosed. Among the joints analyzed, 27.3% showed osteophytes, 7.4% showed erosion, and 17.4% showed pseudocysts. CONCLUSION: Less than half of the joints analyzed showed signs of OA, with females being the most affected and ages 18 to 28 years being the most common.