Involvement of the temporomandibular joint in rheumatoid arthritis

The rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic connective tissue disease, that most of the cases involve the temporomandibular joint. The diagnosis of local involvement is usually not difficult because the disease often starts in other peripheral small joints. The radiographic signs can be observed more frequently than clinical and subjective symptoms. The local symptoms are pain, opening difficulty, stiffness in the morning and swelling. The maximal mouth opening is restricted by the reduced translatory movement of the mandibular condyle. The aim of this case presentation is to describe the temporomandibular aspects of the rheumatoid arthritis and to suggest the usefulness of the condylar movement registration in the diagnostic procedure of the disease.