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Stomatologija 2024; 26 (4): 95-100 569 KB

Transition from fibrous to bony ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint: A narrative literature review

Nijolė Krasilnikova¹, Airida Vaikšnytė¹, Akvilė Strazdaitė¹, Žygimantas Petronis²

Summary

Objective. To analyse the transition from fibrous to bony ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) by considering both etiological factors and underlying molecular mechanisms.

Material and methods. The search was conducted using the keywords “Temporomandibular Joint”, “Ankylosis”, “Fibrous”, “Bony” or “Osseous”, and “Pathogenesis” in the PubMed (MEDLINE) and Wiley Online Library databases. Relevant full-text articles in English published between 2000 and 2025 were included in this review.

Results. The literature review revealed that the progression of fibrous TMJ ankylosis into the osseous form is mainly determined by prolonged inflammation, mechanical damage, inappropriate treatment, and ineffective postoperative rehabilitation. According to various studies, molecular mediators such as hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP-2, BMP-7), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) act synergistically by promoting angiogenesis and endochondral ossification, thereby stimulating new bone formation within the joint. Moreover, the SMAD signaling pathway plays a central role in fibroblast-to-osteoblast differentiation, contributing to ossification in the ankylosed area.

Conclusions. The transition of fibrous TMJ ankylosis into its osseous form is complex and multifactorial process determined by inflammation, growth factors, mechanical stress, and hypoxia. To better understand the essence of this transformation, further studies are required to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this process.

Key words: temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, ankylosis, temporomandibular ankylosis, pathological ossification.

Received: 05 05 2024

Accepted for publishing: 23 12 2024

¹Faculty of Odontology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania

²Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania

Address correspo ndence to Airida Vaikšnytė, Faculty of Odontology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių g. 2, LT-50161, Kaunas, Lithuania.

E-mail address: airida.vaiksnyte@gmail.com



	Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal

2024, Vol. 26, No. 4 CONTENTS REVIEWS Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of chronic maxillary sinusitis caused by fungal infections: A review of the literature Miglė Miškinytė, Vėjūnė Rupeikaitė, Bozena Barbara Sakson, Ričardas Kubilius 89 -94 Transition from fibrous to bony ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint: A narrative literature review Nijolė Krasilnikova, Airida Vaikšnytė, Akvilė Strazdaitė, Žygimantas Petronis 95-100 SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES Oral health evaluation of autistics in a reference institution Láyla Beatriz Garcia Lopes, Maria Karen Vasconcelos Fontenele, Beatriz Leal de Freitas, Francisco Dário de Sousa Carvalho, Ronaldo Carvalho Pinto de Almeida, Daniela Andrisia Teixeira Messias, Andressa dos Santos Sousa, Samuel Fontes Batista, Gardene Paiva Magalhães, Carlos Alberto Monteiro Falcão, Cinthya do Melo Val, Maria Ângela Arêa Leão Ferraz 101 -105 CASE REPORT An unusual case report of peri-implant cystic lesion Loutfi Salti, Khaled Al-ouf 106-110 © 2025 Stomatologija		Stomatologija 2024; 26 (4): 95-100 569 KB Transition from fibrous to bony ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint: A narrative literature review Nijolė Krasilnikova¹, Airida Vaikšnytė¹, Akvilė Strazdaitė¹, Žygimantas Petronis² Summary Objective. To analyse the transition from fibrous to bony ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) by considering both etiological factors and underlying molecular mechanisms. Material and methods. The search was conducted using the keywords “Temporomandibular Joint”, “Ankylosis”, “Fibrous”, “Bony” or “Osseous”, and “Pathogenesis” in the PubMed (MEDLINE) and Wiley Online Library databases. Relevant full-text articles in English published between 2000 and 2025 were included in this review. Results. The literature review revealed that the progression of fibrous TMJ ankylosis into the osseous form is mainly determined by prolonged inflammation, mechanical damage, inappropriate treatment, and ineffective postoperative rehabilitation. According to various studies, molecular mediators such as hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP-2, BMP-7), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) act synergistically by promoting angiogenesis and endochondral ossification, thereby stimulating new bone formation within the joint. Moreover, the SMAD signaling pathway plays a central role in fibroblast-to-osteoblast differentiation, contributing to ossification in the ankylosed area. Conclusions. The transition of fibrous TMJ ankylosis into its osseous form is complex and multifactorial process determined by inflammation, growth factors, mechanical stress, and hypoxia. To better understand the essence of this transformation, further studies are required to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this process. Key words: temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, ankylosis, temporomandibular ankylosis, pathological ossification. Received: 05 05 2024 Accepted for publishing: 23 12 2024 ¹Faculty of Odontology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania ²Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania Address correspo ndence to Airida Vaikšnytė, Faculty of Odontology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių g. 2, LT-50161, Kaunas, Lithuania. E-mail address: airida.vaiksnyte@gmail.com