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

Purpose: To compare characteristics of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to controls without RA. Materials and Methods: The sample included 80 subjects (aged 33 to 73 years; 88% women), 40 in each group. An international diagnostic protocol for TMD was followed. Results: 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. Conclusion: 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. Int J Prosthodont 2022. doi: 10.11607/ijp.8145