Abstract
Background and objectives: There is an increasing number of patients applying for dental treatment who suffer from temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA). Osteoarthritis may be the cause of the pain in the area of temporomandibular joints, but its course may also be absolutely asymptomatic. The aim of this study was to present an interdisciplinary approach to TMJOA, including current diagnostics and treatment modalities on the basis of the available literature. Materials and Methods: PubMed and Scopus databases were analyzed using the keywords: ((temporomandibular joint AND osteoarthritis) AND imaging) and ((temporomandibular joint AND osteoarthritis) AND treatment). The bibliography was supplemented with books related to the temporomandibular joint. After screening 2450 results, the work was based in total on 98 publications. Results and Conclusions: Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory, age-related, chronic and progressive degenerative joint disease. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), together with clinical symptoms, play significant roles in TMJOA diagnosis. Current MRI techniques seem to be clinically useful for assessment of bony changes in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Treatment of TMJOA requires a complex, interdisciplinary approach. TMJOA treatment includes the cooperation of physiotherapists, rheumatologists, gnathologists, orthodontists and quite often also maxillofacial surgeons and prosthodontists. Sometimes additional pharmacotherapy is indicated. Thorough examination of TMJ function and morphology is necessary at the beginning of any orthodontic or dental treatment. Undiagnosed TMJ dysfunction may cause further problems with the entire masticatory system, including joints, muscles and teeth.
Highlights
Osteoarthritis is considered to be the most common joint disease [1]
Current Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques seem to be clinically useful for assessment of bony changes in temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) treatment includes the cooperation of physiotherapists, rheumatologists, gnathologists, orthodontists and quite often maxillofacial surgeons and prosthodontists
Summary
Osteoarthritis is considered to be the most common joint disease [1]. The progression of osteoarthritis is usually slow. It affects the entire joint, including articular cartilage, subchondral bone, ligaments, synovium and even adjacent muscles [2,3,4,5]. A characteristic feature of osteoarthritis is the occurrence of degenerative changes in articular cartilage. There are some changes in the cartilage in the initial stage of the disease: the amount of water increases and the number of proteoglycans decreases. There is an increasing number of patients applying for dental treatment who suffer from temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA). Osteoarthritis may be the cause of the pain in the area of temporomandibular joints, but its course may be absolutely asymptomatic.
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