u/Hopeful-Extent-693

https://reddit.com/link/1td4mwj/video/e8xln4b9y41h1/player

If these types of educational videos are interesting and helpful, please let me know.

If any members of this sub have read my book and have questions or are confused, please ask your questions here. Understanding your condition is a good step in the right direction.

It is imperative to get the right diagnosis because you may NOT have arthritis.

A CAT scan (CT or CBCT) can show a damaged or flattened TMJ condyle, but the confusion comes from why the damage happened.

Many radiologists or dentists may simply label the joint as “arthritis” because they see:

• Flattening
• Erosion
• Bone irregularities
• “Bird beak” shaping
• Loss of normal contour

But a compressed joint can create those same changes.

Here is the mechanical concept:

When the condyle is forced backward and upward into the socket because the bite and jaw position are not harmonious, constant pressure is placed on the bone. Bone under chronic pressure can activate osteoclastic activity, meaning the body starts resorbing or breaking down bone in response to overload.

So the scan may show:

• Bone loss
• Remodeling
• Flattening
• Degenerative-looking changes

The question becomes:
Is this primary arthritic disease, or is it mechanically induced breakdown from compression?

That distinction matters.

A mechanically compressed joint may improve when the condyle is decompressed and allowed to sit in a healthier position. Symptoms often reduce because pressure is reduced. The bone may remodel into a more stable shape, even if it never looks “perfect” again.

In simple terms:

• Arthritis is often described as a disease process.
• Compression-induced osteoclastic remodeling is more of a mechanical overload problem.

Unfortunately, on imaging alone, they can look very similar.

It is imperative to get the right diagnosis because you may NOT have arthritis.

A CAT scan (CT or CBCT) can show a damaged or flattened TMJ condyle, but the confusion comes from why the damage happened.

Many radiologists or dentists may simply label the joint as “arthritis” because they see:

• Flattening
• Erosion
• Bone irregularities
• “Bird beak” shaping
• Loss of normal contour

But a compressed joint can create those same changes.

Here is the mechanical concept:

When the condyle is forced backward and upward into the socket because the bite and jaw position are not harmonious, constant pressure is placed on the bone. Bone under chronic pressure can activate osteoclastic activity, meaning the body starts resorbing or breaking down bone in response to overload.

So the scan may show:

• Bone loss
• Remodeling
• Flattening
• Degenerative-looking changes

The question becomes:
Is this primary arthritic disease, or is it mechanically induced breakdown from compression?

That distinction matters.

A mechanically compressed joint may improve when the condyle is decompressed and allowed to sit in a healthier position. Symptoms often reduce because pressure is reduced. The bone may remodel into a more stable shape, even if it never looks “perfect” again.

In simple terms:

• Arthritis is often described as a disease process.
• Compression-induced osteoclastic remodeling is more of a mechanical overload problem.

Unfortunately, on imaging alone, they can look very similar.

Reddit encourages different subs of the same topic to share information for the benefit of its readers.

There are pain subs where moderators refuse to post information on TMD as self-promotion. It is very frustrating, FYI.