Temporomandibular disorder in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: clinical evaluation and correlation with the findings of cone beam computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the presence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and correlate with tomographic findings and clinical aspects.

STUDY DESIGN: Fifteen patients with JIA were evaluated by means of RDC/TMD, and submitted to a cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) examination, then correlated with the clinical diagnosis of TMD with tomographic findings, gender, age at the time of evaluation, time elapsed since the onset of symptoms, and time of treatment of JIA.

RESULTS: In the 30 temporomandibular joints evaluated, 25 (83.3%) were clinically diagnosed with TMD. Although tomographic alterations have frequently been found (83.3%), only 5 (16.7%) were clinically diagnosed with osteoarthritis/arthrosis. There was a difference in the degree of TMD when evaluated, the time elapsed since the onset of symptoms, and the time of treatment of JIA.

CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis based on physical examination and complementary evaluation is necessary to provide early therapeutic procedures so that possible functional and/or anatomical problems do not develop.