Characteristics Of Temporomandibular Disorders And Orofacial Pain In Individuals With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Abstract

To compare characteristics of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to controls without RA. The sample included 80 subjects (aged 33 to 73 years; 88% women), 40 in each group. An international diagnostic protocol for TMD was followed. Arthralgia was the most prevalent TMD in the RA group. Orofacial pain was more common than in controls (42.5% vs 15%, P = .031), with higher chronic pain grade and pain intensity (P ≤ .005). Somatization and depression were also increased (P < .001). In multiple logistic regression analysis, arthralgia (OR: 6.4; 95% CI: 1.1 to 37.1; P = .038) and age ≥ 55 years were predictors of RA (OR 3.9; 95% CI: 1.4 to 10.8; P = .009) when controlling for the effects of gender and pain intensity. TMD was related to 7.4-times higher odds for presence of orofacial pain, while RA was related to 3.4-times higher odds for pain. RA patients experienced more orofacial pain and higher pain intensity, somatization, and depression compared to healthy individuals. Pain is more influenced by TMD than by RA.