Closed lock duration is associated with an increasing prevalence of disc perforation and
Originally at sciencedirect.com
Summary & scoring by The Bell Brief (Dr. Jennifer Bell) using the Drill-Down Protocol (Drill-Down Score) — not the original publisher.
Why it matters for dental
Longer closed-lock duration in temporomandibular joint disorders correlates with higher rates of disc perforation and degenerative changes visible on arthroscopy; oral surgeons and TMD-focused practices should consider earlier arthroscopic evaluation in patients with prolonged locking to limit irreversible joint damage.
Key points
- Study published online 18 September 2026 in Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery links longer closed-lock duration to increased prevalence of disc perforation and degenerative arthroscopic findings.
- Findings apply to oral and maxillofacial surgeons and specialists managing TMD cases where conservative treatment fails.
- Results suggest that prolonged locking may drive structural joint damage, influencing timing of surgical referral decisions.
Who should care
Read the original on Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (JOMS)
Full reporting and any paywall content live on sciencedirect.com. We summarize and score; we do not republish.
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