American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) Practice Exam 2025 - Free Orthodontics Practice Questions and Study Guide

Lateral disk displacement commonly occurs in conditions that affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and is often associated with dysfunction and malalignment. Among the options presented, Apert syndrome is a craniofacial disorder characterized by premature fusion of certain skull bones, resulting in a range of craniofacial abnormalities that can affect jaw relationships and joint function.

In Apert syndrome, the alteration in skull and facial structure can lead to complications that predispose individuals to TMJ disorders, which include lateral disk displacement. This specific type of disk displacement involves the displacement of the articular disk in a direction away from the midline, which can be influenced by the craniofacial anatomy and musculature changes seen in conditions like Apert syndrome.

The other disorders listed, while they may have their own unique features and complications, are not as directly associated with lateral disk displacement as Apert syndrome is. For instance, orofacial digital syndrome is primarily characterized by anomalies of the oral cavity and digits, cleft palate is mainly a defect of the palate without direct implications for the TMJ, and cleidocranial dysplasia affects bone development but does not have a strong connection with lateral disk displacement. Thus, Apert syndrome stands out as the craniofac