Idiopathic condylar resorption (ICR) is the loss of the mandibular condyle due to resorption, which creates an open bite and muscular instability. It can be caused by osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis, autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic injuries, or lack of natural estradiol from oral contraceptives. Those most likely to have ICR include females during puberty who participate in sports like cheerleading or competitive swimming, with a female to male ratio of around 9:1. Treatment options for ICR include orthodontics, TMJ therapy like occlusal splints, and jaw surgery to remove hyperplastic tissue, reposition the disc and condyle

1. Idiopathic Condylar Resorption

2. What is ICR?

3. Mandibular Condylar
Resorption
Loss of vertical dimension of
the condyle
Creates an open bite
Muscular Instability

4. TMJ
Disfunction
Grinding of the teeth
Clicking or popping of the jaw
bone
Severe headaches and jaw pain

5. Causes of ICR

6. Osteoarthritis
Most common type of arthritis
Affects cartilage
Only affects joints not organs

7. Avascular Necrosis
A disease where cellular death occurs in bone components due to lack
of blood supply
Often leads to the destruction of the affected joint

8. Autoimmune Diseases
Rheumatoid arthritis
Psoriatic Arthritis
Scleroderma
Systemic Lupus

9. Traumatic Injuries
Injury to jaw
Fracture of mandibular condyle

10. Absence of Natural Estradiol
Oral contraceptives produce ethinyl or synthetic estradiol
Ethinyl estradiol increases risk of condylar resorption

11. Who is most likely to have ICR?

12. “Cheerleader’s
Syndrome”
Approximately a 9:1 female to
male ratio
During time of puberty
Participate in a number of
sports

13. The Competitive
Swimmer
TMJ pain due to bilateral side
breathing while swimming
Unable to fully open mouth
after hard work out
Severe headaches or migraines

14. How Can ICR Be Treated?

15. Orthodontics
Realignment of the teeth to
match jaw line
Improve facial esthetics
Prepare teeth for surgery

16. TMJ Therapy
Occlusal Splint
Soft Tissue Therapy
Medication

17. Jaw Surgery
Removal of hyper-plastic
synovial tissue from the joint
Articular disc is repositioned
and stabilized to the condyle
Mini anchor is placed in the
posterior aspect of the condylar
head
Surgical repositioning of the
upper and lower jaws to
correct occlusal deformities