## 4 Discussion
[20] documented slight yet significant differences in joint space and condylar position between the right and left. These asymmetries may result from habitual functional movement, for example, mastication [21]. Although gender and age were significant factors in TMJ morphology, race and horizontal skeletal classification were not found to have a significant impact in this study. The lack of significant differences in race may be due to the broad division of the group into Caucasian and non-Caucasian since the samples of each race were limited. Additionally, the non-significant results across different horizontal skeletal classifications (Class I, II, and III) contrast with other earlier studies [1; 3; 5]. [PERSON] et al. [1] stated that Class III skeletal patterns due to mandibular pragthism are associated with larger condylar widths and larger fossa depth compared to Class II individuals due to mandibular retrognathism. Their findings suggest that Class III patients experience an adaptive remodeling of the condyle and glenoid fossa to accommodate more anterior mandible positioning [1]. This aligns with the findings from [PERSON] et al. [3] that Class III individuals tend to exhibit greater condylar height and fossa height than Class II individuals, potentially due to the structural changes to support anterior mandible positioning [3]. Conversely, Class II individuals often show more anteriorly positioned condyles within the glenoid fossa. This phenomenon could be explained by compensatory mechanisms of mandibular retrognathism [5]. Comparing condylar space ratios in adults with those reported in adolescents by [PERSON] et al. [4] provides additional insights into the change in TMJ morphology. Adults show a significantly larger SS ratio (1.61, \(p\)-value \(<\) 0.001 ***, \(\eta^{2}\) = 0.03) compared to adolescents (1.27) [4]. An increase in SS in adults might reflect adaptations to long-term functional pressures, allowing the joint to remodel to withstand vertical compression forces [21; 22]. PS remains relatively stable across both groups, with ratios of 1.18 with a \(p\)-value of 0.044 *, \(\eta^{2}\) = 0.008 in adults and 1.19 in adolescents. In contrast, the ratio of LS was smaller in adults (0.79, \(p\)-value \(<\) 0.001 **, \(\eta^{2}\) = 0.01) compared to adolescents (1.05). This pattern suggests a narrowing in LS with aging, possibly due to the condyle settling into a more centered position in the condylar fossa as individuals mature and TMJ remodeling takes place [22]. CS for adults is slightly larger (1.15, \(p\)-value \(<\) 0.001 ***, \(\eta^{2}\) = 0.03), though there are no corresponding data for adolescents, limiting a direct comparison [4]. Our study has several clinical implications for orthodontics and TMJ management. Specifically, this study's findings on SS ratios larger in adults than adolescents suggest that the condyle undergoes adaptive remodeling with age [22]. This increased joint space may represent a compensatory mechanism to manage vertical loading, which is critical for orthodontic interventions in adults to minimize the risk of TMD [1; 5]. In addition, the larger SS and CS values observed in the hypodivergent group align with findings that the hypodivergent group has a lower risk of developing TMD, in contrast to hyperdivergent individuals who are more susceptible due to reduced SS and smaller condylar volume [6]. The use of CBCT provided a comprehensive three-dimensional TMJ evaluation and allowed precise measurement of condylar and fossa morphology. [PERSON] [8] emphasized the importance of utilizing CBCT in orthodontics, especially for complex craniofacial structure evaluation such as TMJ [10]. The limitations of this study include its cross-sectional design, which limits the ability to theorize causal relationships between skeletal patterns and TMJ changes.