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Submitted
7 April 2025
Accepted
18 May 2025
Published
30 January 2026
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Abstract

Background: The mandibular condyle's shape varies according to genetic, environmental, and functional factors. In order to diagnose temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and to plan orthodontic and prosthodontic therapies,it is imperative to evaluate these variances. One popular imaging technique for evaluating condylar morphology is panoramic radiography. Objectives: The study's objectives are to determine the prevalence of various condylar shapes and how they relate to age and gender by employing panoramic radiography to retrospectively assess condylar morphology in a saudi population. Methods: One thousand digital panoramic radiographs from patients who were at least eighteen years old were the subject of a retrospective cross-sectional investigation. Oval, diamond, bird beak, and crooked finger forms were the four categories into which condylar morphology was divided. The CBCT scans were reviewed by an experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeon . Using SPSS software version 27.0, the data were examined to look for correlations between condylar morphology and demographic characteristics using chi-square tests and descriptive statistics. Results: The most common condylar morphology observed was the oval type (53.5% on the right and 52.3% on the left), followed by bird beak (22.4% right, 23.6% left), diamond (14.2% right, 13.9% left), and crooked finger (9.9% right, 10.2% left). Oval condyles were more prevalent in younger age groups, whereas degenerative changes (crooked finger morphology) were more common in older individuals. Gender-based variations revealed that males had a higher prevalence of oval condyles, while females exhibited a greater frequency of diamond and crooked finger morphologies. A statistically significant association was found between right condylar morphology and age groups. Conclusion: The study confirms the predominance of oval-shaped condyles across all age groups and genders, with degenerative changes becoming more prevalent with age. Gender-based variations in condylar morphology may be attributed to genetic, hormonal, and functional factors. Panoramic radiography remains a reliable and accessible tool for assessing condylar morphology.

Keywords

Condylar morphology, panoramic radiography, mandibular condyle, temporomandibular joint, age-related changes, gender differences.

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How to Cite
Alalawi, W. (2026). Assessment of Mandibular Condylar Morphology in the Saudi Population of the Qassim Region. A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study. Journal of Contemporary Dental Sciences, 3(1), 1–8. Retrieved from https://jcds.qu.edu.sa/index.php/JCDS/article/view/2385
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