Rheumatoid arthritis of TMJ--a diagnostic dilemma?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease affecting the musculo-skeletal connective tissue of the body with a strong predilection for the joints. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is commonly affected with rheumatoid arthritis in adults and children, but it is usually among the last joints to be affected. A case report is presented of a patient undergoing orthodontic treatment who developed unilateral condylar changes and whose serum was also positive for rheumatoid factor. The involvement of TMJ in several systemic disorders is a well established fact. When such disorders manifest in an atypical manner, it poses a diagnostic dilemma. This article aims to discuss various disorders causing condylar erosions.     

Temporomandibular joint involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: a radiological and clinical study

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not uncommon. In this study a questionnaire, clinical assessment, and high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) were used in 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis to evaluate the diagnostic criteria of TMJ involvement. Symptoms due to TMJ involvement were present in 33.3% of the patients. Frequency of involvement was 40.0% on clinical assessment but 86.6% with HRCT assessment. The most common HRCT findings were decreases in the joint space (33.3%), mandibular subchondral cysts (23.3%), temporal subchondral cysts (23.3%), degeneration (23.3%), shape (13.3%) and height (13.3%) anomalies of the mandibular condyle, condylar head resorption (13.3%), erosion of the mandibular condyle (13.3%), and demineralization (13.3%). All patients with positive clinical findings also had positive HRCT findings. In seven (46.7%) of the patients, there were no symptoms or clinical findings implying TMJ involvement; however, they had positive results on HRCT evaluation. The HRCT findings may be the initial sign of TMJ involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In conclusion, it is suggested that RA patients with the suspicion of TMJ involvement should undergo HRCT evaluation, because HRCT findings may precede the clinical findings.     

Temporomandibular Joint Adaptation to Mandibular Repositioning in Adult Occlusal Rehabilitation

Mandibular repositioning is generally discouraged for treating adult patients with TMJ disorders, because the temporomandibular joints are assumed to have poor adaptive capacity. However, the technique can be successful in some instances.

This article presents the case history of a 22-year-old male who was treated for TMJ pain and dysfunction. The patient's mandible was repositioned anteriorly with a mandibular splint after other treatments had failed. The case is unusual in that the patient's joints showed extensive adaptive remodeling after treatment, and he had excellent neuromuscular and skeletal adaptation to the repositioning.     

Functional changes following distraction osteogenesis treatment of asymmetric mandibular growth deviation in unilateral juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a prospective study with long-term follow-up

In juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), temporomandibular joint involvement is a frequent complication leading to deficient mandibular growth. Occurring unilaterally this will give rise to mandibular and maxillary asymmetry that will affect the soft tissue and the muscles and result in complex dentofacial anomaly. In the case of severe dentofacial malformation, orthognathic surgery is the only treatment option. Vertical osseodistraction of the mandibular ramus has been suggested as a means of rectifying the mandibular growth deviation and soft-tissue problems. Whether such treatment introduces dysfunctional side effects of the temporomandibular joint and muscles has been debated and concern has been raised that treatment impairs the patient's mouth opening capacity and mandibular movement. The present study prospectively evaluated 23 patients with JIA and mandibular asymmetry caused by unilateral temporomandibular joint arthritis. The authors found a clinical effect on the asymmetry with only minor subjective complaints and limited objective changes in functional parameters.     

The temporomandibular joint in rheumatoid arthritis—a comparative clinical and tomographic study pre- and post-prosthesis

Six partially or fully edentulous rheumatoid patients participated in the study. By comparing the clinical symptoms and tomograms of the temporomandibular joints (TMJS) pre-prosthesis with those post-prosthesis, this report assesses whether dental treatment could provide positive help for TMJS in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Among the clinical symptoms of TMJ dysfunction, pain from the TMJ region and limitations of movement were improved in all the patients post-prosthesis. Tomographic evidence of desirable remodelling of the condylar heads was observed in two cases.     

Clinical and radiographic evaluation of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Report of a case

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease of the synovium which may lead to proliferative and degenerative changes in the body's joints, including the temporomandibular joint (TM Joint). Although the exact etiology of rheumatoid arthritis remains unknown, it is suspected that the disease is often initiated by an infectious organism, or by genetic and/or environmental factors. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is a chronic disease of childhood with a spectrum of joint involvement and associated systemic and other organ involvement. Five percent of all rheumatoid arthritis patients are children. In the United States, approximately 150,000 children are affected by IRA. With upper limb involvement, routine oral hygiene procedures become difficult. Dental evaluations/screenings may not be included in the initial team assessment of these patients until the TM Joint is affected; however, prior to this time, the patient may have had years of poor oral hygiene which could contribute to severe decay and early tooth loss. This case report describes the oral health status of a child with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and the specific recommendations for dental management.     

Radiologic changes in temporomandibular, hand, and foot joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Radiologic changes in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and in the joints of the hand and foot were recorded for 90 adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The severity of the changes was graded according to the Larsen classification of six grades (O to V), and mainly erosive changes were recorded. The assessment of the radiographs was performed with the aid of reference films. The radiologic changes in the TMJs corresponded to grade II (definite early abnormality) and paralleled those of most of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints. The most severe changes were localized to the wrists, with a median grade of III (moderate destructive abnormality). The severity of the changes was similar on the right and left sides of the TMJ. We conclude that TMJ involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is severe and warrants a thorough initial clinical examination. Such a strategy will facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ changes in the early stages of the disease.     

Dental and skeletal maturation in female adolescents with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis

Occurrence of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA) during adolescence may have interactions with mandibular and dental development. The aim of the present study was to investigate relationships between occurrence of TMD and TMJ OA and extents of dental and skeletal development in juvenile female patients. In total, 95 female adolescents (age range, 11–15 years) were selected. Among them, 15 subjects (control) had no signs of TMD, 39 TMD patients did not have OA (TMDnoOA), 17 TMD patients were at initial stage of TMJ OA (TMJOA), and 27 patients showed progressive stage of TMJ OA (TMJOA). Dental age was estimated by Demirjian's stages used in a previous study with Korean adolescents. Craniofacial parameters and cervical vertebrae maturation (CVM) stages, representing skeletal maturity levels, were measured using lateral cephalograms. The estimated dental age was significantly lower than chronological age in all groups, but CVM differences were not statistically significant. Dental age was the lowest, and differences between the chronological age and estimated dental age were the highest among initial stage of TMJOAs followed by progressive stage of TMJOAs, TMDnoOAs and control and were not associated with CVM stages. Cephalometric parameters revealed significant clockwise rotation of the mandible among the TMJOAs compared with controls and TMDnoOAs and were not associated with CVM stages as well. The juvenile female patients with TMD, particularly TMJ OA, showed retarded dental development, mandibular backward positioning and hyperdivergent facial profiles. The TMJ OA may be associated with retarded dental development but not with skeletal maturations.     

Temporomandibular joint involvement in rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis

The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms and clinical findings in Albanian patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis. The authors examined 124 consecutive hospitalized patients (88 with rheumatoid arthritis, 22 with systemic lupus erythematosus and 14 with systemic sclerosis) and 124 age- and gender-matched healthy controls using a questionnaire and an oro-facial clinical examination for assessing the presence of TMJ sounds, pain in the TMJ area, tenderness of masticatory muscles and limited mouth opening. Significantly more patients (67%) reported TMJ symptoms than controls (19%). A significantly higher proportion of patients (65%) exhibited clinical signs of temporomandibular dysfunction compared with controls (26%). The most frequent findings in rheumatoid arthritis were temporomandibular sounds and pain. Pain was found in a significantly higher proportion in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus compared with controls. Difficulty and limitation in mouth opening were observed in the majority of systemic sclerosis patients, and in only a minority of rheumatoid arthritis patients. This study supports the notion that TMJ examination should be encouraged in the rheumatology setting and clinicians should be able to provide pain management and patient support.     

Rheumatoid arthritis and disk derangement of the temporomandibular joint. A comparative arthroscopic study.

Consecutive patients with clinical diagnoses of disk derangement and rheumatoid arthritis with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) signs and symptoms were compared by clinical, radiographic, and arthroscopic examination. Synovial biopsies were obtained from patients with arthroscopic features of synovial inflammation. No clinical sign or symptom was found to be specific of rheumatoid involvement although joint crepitation was most frequently found in rheumatic patients (p less than 0.001). Tomographic features of subchondral bone involvement were more frequently revealed in TMJs of rheumatic patients (p less than 0.001). At arthroscopy rheumatic patients often showed pronounced arthrotic changes and inflammation. In contrast to patients with disk derangement, fibrosis of the TMJ was frequent (p less than 0.001). Histologic examination of obtained synovial specimens correlated well with arthroscopic findings, and more pronounced inflammation was present in specimens from rheumatic patients.     

The use of etanercept as a non-surgical treatment for temporomandibular joint psoriatric arthritis: a case report

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin and joints characterized by extensive intra-articular bone resorption and silver-red scaly plaques most commonly found on extensor surfaces of the skin. When this arthritis affects the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and does not successfully halt in its early degenerative process, patients may undergo invasive joint reconstruction that irreversibly changes the TMJ physiologic joint dynamics. This study presents a case of TMJ PsA: anterior open bite, limited range of motion, and erythematous desquamative plaques of the upper limb extensors surfaces. The patient previously received non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressors, and corticosteroids over a four-year period while suffering the idiosyncratic drug side effects from long-term therapy without improvement in joint function or rash resolution. The treatment team then chose etanercept, a synthetic fusion protein therapy that binds with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, to interrupt reactive inflammatory arthritis. The patient received the TNF-alpha inhibitor monthly for two years. This last treatment led to full remission of both joint symptomatology and skin lesions. Our results should encourage general dental practitioners' involvement in curing patients with psoriatic arthritis when it affects the TMJ.     

Pathology of the temporomandibular joint of patients with rheumatoid arthritis--case reports of secondary amyloidosis and macrophage populations.

INTRODUCTION: The pathogenetic features of rheumatoid arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are not well defined. In this paper the histological features of TMJs affected by rheumatoid arthritis, and the detection of secondary amyloidosis and macrophage populations in the TMJs of two patients with progressive rheumatoid arthritis are described. METHODS: In two patients (64-year-old man and 61-year-old woman) with rheumatoid arthritis total TMJ replacement were performed. The surgical specimens were studied histologically. RESULTS: It was found that the articular cartilage had been completely replaced by proliferating fibrous tissue. Congo red staining and polarizing microscopy revealed amyloid deposition in the connective tissue of the joint space. Immunohistochemical staining showed CD 68 positive macrophages around the amyloid deposition in the proliferating soft tissue. CONCLUSION: TMJ involvement in rheumatoid arthritis followed the same destructive pathway as in other joints. Amyloid deposition and macrophage populations were detected in two TMJs affected by rheumatoid arthritis.     

Effect of methotrexate on the temporomandibular joint and facial morphology in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a disease characterized by chronic inflammation in one or more joints; it affects children and adolescents up to 18 years of age. This disease may cause significant skeletal joint destruction, and the temporomandibular joint, like other joints, may become severely affected resulting in aberrant mandibular growth, abnormal dentofacial development, and/or altered orofacial muscle function. Methotrexate is the most common remittive agent used in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis to modify the course of inflammatory destruction of peripheral joints. The purpose of this study was: (1) to evaluate the effect of methotrexate therapy on the prevalence of temporomandibular joint lesions and aberration in craniofacial development in children afflicted with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis; (2) to further examine the relationship between the temporomandibular joint/cephalometric findings and rheumatologic data (ie, age at onset, duration of disease); and (3) to evaluate further pauciarticular- and polyarticular-onset disease in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and the prevalence of temporomandibular joint lesions and facial dysmorphology. The following information was obtained from 45 patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: (1) routine rheumatologic clinical examination data; (2) anamnestic temporomandibular joint evaluation data; (3) clinical temporomandibular joint examination data; (4) lateral cephalometric measurement data; (5) posteroanterior cephalometric measurement data; and (6) individually corrected axial tomographic data. The results demonstrated the following: (1) radiographic evidence of condylar degeneration was apparent in 63% of all patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis with pauciarticular patients showing less temporomandibular involvement than polyarticular patients; (2) polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving methotrexate showed less severe temporomandibular joint involvement than the polyarticular patients not receiving methotrexate; (3) the craniofacial structure was affected to a greater extent in the polyarticular form of the disease; (4) the craniomandibular index scores were significantly greater in the polyarticular group; (5) vertical height asymmetry and chin deviation were noted in more than 50% of the patients; and (6) there was a correlation between the severity of condylar lesions and cephalometric findings (ie, mandibular retroposition, posterior rotation, smaller ramus and mandibular dimensions) and the onset and duration of the disease. In conclusion, under the conditions of this study, methotrexate therapy was effective in minimizing temporomandibular joint destruction and craniofacial dysmorphology in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients with the polyarticular form of the disease.     

Management of temporomandibular joint arthritis in children and adolescents: An introduction for orthodontists

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common inflammatory rheumatic disease of childhood. JIA can affect any joint and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the joints most frequently involved. TMJ arthritis impacts mandibular growth and development and can result in skeletal deformity (convex profile and facial asymmetry), and malocclusion. Furthermore, when TMJs are affected, patients may present with pain at joint and masticatory muscles and dysfunction with crepitus and limited jaw movement. This review aims to describe the role of orthodontists in the management of patients with JIA and TMJ involvement. This article is an overview of evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with JIA and TMJ involvement. Screening for the orofacial manifestation of JIA is important for orthodontists to identify TMJ involvement and related dentofacial deformity. The treatment protocol of JIA with TMJ involvement requires an interdisciplinary collaboration including orthopaedic/orthodontic treatment and surgical interventions for the management of growth disturbances. Orthodontists are also involved in the management of orofacial signs and symptoms; behavioural therapy, physiotherapy and occlusal splints are the suggested treatments. Patients with TMJ arthritis require specific expertise from an interdisciplinary team with members knowledgeable in JIA care. Since disorders of mandibular growth often appear during childhood, the orthodontist could be the first clinician to see the patient and can play a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of JIA patients with TMJ involvement.     

Electromyography Before and After Treatment of TMJ Dysfunction

The patient described in this article suffered from pain in the right side of her face for five years before she saw the authors. Earlier treatment with medication and neurosurgery had not been successful. The authors used electromyography to examine the disturbed muscle function and to investigate a possible cause for the pain in the muscles of mastication. The silent periods of the patient's muscles were measured before and after treatment, since it is known from the literature that the EMG silent periods may be elongated in patients with TMJ dysfunction or occlusal irregularities. The coordination of both heads of this patient's lateral pterygoid muscles were bilaterally investigated before and after treatment. Treatment consisted of splint therapy and selective grinding. Oral rehabilitation was also undertaken, beginning three months after the disappearance of the patient's symptoms.     

Acute suppurative arthritis of the temporomandibular joint in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint is a rare condition. A case of acute staphylococcal suppurative arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) complicating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a 53 year old woman is reported. The aetiology of septic arthritis may be traced to several predisposing factors and many specific agents. It would appear that the case presented is the result of predisposition of patients known to have RA to the complication septic arthritis. Some treatment recommendations are given.     

Derangement, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis of the temporomandibular joint: implications, diagnosis, and management

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction is often believed to bea young person's malady. However, geriatric patients also present with clinical findings of TMJ clicking, locking, crepitation, limited opening, and pain. With our aging population and the high prevalence of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases in the elderly, it is important to understand the etiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, and management of derangement, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis of the TMJ. Although arthritis of the TMJ usually causes only mild-to-moderate dysfunction in older patients, they present challenges related to medication use and comorbidity. This article presents the most recent understanding and therapeutic protocols for patient diagnosis and management.     

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint

A case of osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is described, and the improtance of accurate diagnosis of patients who present with TMJ pain is stressed. A high condylotomy was performed to eliminate a large bone spur which had severely restricted the patient's range of mandibular motion.