Assessment of oral health-related quality of life after total temporomandibular joint replacement.

BACKGROUND

The article addresses the impact of total temporomandibular joint replacement (TMJR) on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients with advanced temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. TMJ disorder encompasses a variety of conditions causing pain and dysfunction in the jaw, peripheral nerves, and TMJ. TMJR is considered a last resort in the surgical treatment of advanced joint disorders when conservative treatments fail.

METHODS

The study followed 10 patients undergoing TMJR and assessed their oral health-related quality of life using the OHIP-14 (Oral Health Impact Profile-14) questionnaire at different postoperative time points.

RESULTS

The results showed a significant improvement in physical pain, psychological discomfort, and physical disability after six months, with a restoration of oral health-related quality of life after twelve months.

CONCLUSIONS

The research concluded that TMJR treatment can significantly improve oral health-related quality of life in patients with advanced TMJ disorder. However, further studies are needed to analyze the long-term effectiveness of treatment and compare different surgical approaches.