Abstract
Background and Objectives: The relatively high prevalence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA) in older people increases the necessity to investigate the specific characteristics of TMJ-OA in this particular population. This study aimed to analyze the longitudinal changes in clinical and radiological characteristics of TMJ-OA in older people. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 76 participants with TMJ-OA. Participants were classified into two groups according to age. The older people group included 33 participants over 50 years of age, and the control group included 43 participants in their 15-29 years. We analyzed the differences in clinical features and the distribution of destructive bony changes on CBCT images between groups. Results: The duration of pain was significantly shorter in the older people group (P = .046); however, the treatment duration was significantly longer in the older people group (P = .001). There was a significant difference in the distribution of destructive bony features between groups (P = .005). In the older people group, “three or more features” (36.3%) were the most common, whereas in the control group, “erosion” (44.2%) was the most common. After treatment, there was little improvement in the frequency of “erosion” in the older people group. There was a significant difference in the proportion of erosion after treatment between the groups (P = .033). Conclusion: In older people with TMJ-OA, active treatment to effectively induce condylar remodeling should be considered.
Highlights
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease worldwide, characterized by deterioration of the articular tissues and gradual remodeling of the underlying bone progresses [1 - 3]
We reviewed patients diagnosed with temporomandibular joint (TMJ)-OA who visited the Department of Oral Medicine, Jeonbuk National University Dental Hospital, with TMJ pain from 2014 to 2018
TMJ-OA was diagnosed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) [13]
Summary
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease worldwide, characterized by deterioration of the articular tissues and gradual remodeling of the underlying bone progresses [1 - 3]. OA is caused by mechanical overloadinginduced fibrillation, erosion, and cracking in the cartilage layer [4]. In this respect, OA is known as an age-related disease and can affect any joint in the body, including the hand, knee, and hips, which are positioned to bear the physical load [5, 6]. The epidemiology of TMJ-OA in the literature shows that degenerative changes in the TMJ can occur in adolescents, with the prevalence in women peaking in those aged 20-40 years [8 - 10]. The relatively high prevalence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA) in older people increases the necessity to investigate the specific characteristics of TMJ-OA in this particular population. This study aimed to analyze the longitudinal changes in clinical and radiological characteristics of TMJ-OA in older people
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