• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2022

Subchondral cysts are frequently encountered in patients with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA), particularly in advanced stage. Subchondral cysts within osteoarthritis are typically lying adjacent to the joint surface where initial load bearing occurs during activity and have been associated with greater pain and disease progression. Although the etiology of these cysts remains uncertain, recently studies report that the induction of the subchondral bone mechanical stress caused subchondral cysts. Repeated overloading leads to further deterioration of subchondral bone which render subchondral bone structure more fragile, increase the risk of osteoarthritis progress. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of conservative treatment and longitudinal osseous changes of a large subchondral cyst in a mandibular condyle in a symptomatic TMJ OA patient.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.174-182
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• 2020

Objectives: Joint injuries frequently lead to progressive joint degeneration that causes articular disc derangement, joint inflammation, and osteoarthritis. Such arthropathies that arise after trauma are defined as post-traumatic arthritis (PTA). Although PTA is well recognized in knee and elbow joints, PTA in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) has not been clearly defined. Interestingly, patients experiencing head and neck trauma without direct jaw fracture have displayed TMJ disease symptoms; however, definitive diagnosis and treatment options are not available. This study will analyze clinical aspects of PTA in TMJ and their treatment outcomes after joint arthrocentesis and lavage. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with history of trauma to the head and neck especially without jaw fracture were retrospectively studied. Those patients developed TMJ disease symptoms and were diagnosed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. To decrease TMJ discomfort, arthrocentesis and lavage with or without conservative therapy were applied, and efficacy was evaluated by amount of mouth opening and pain scale. Statistical differences between pre- and post-treatment values were evaluated by Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Patient age varied widely between 20 and 80 years, and causes of trauma were diverse. Duration of disease onset was measured as 508 post-trauma days, and 85% of the patients sought clinic visit within 2 years after trauma. In addition, 85% of the patients showed TMJ disc derangement without reduction, and osteoarthritis was accompanied at the traumatized side or at both sides in 40% of the patients. After arthrocentesis or lavage, maximal mouth opening was significantly increased (28-44 mm on average, P<0.001) and pain scale was dramatically decreased (7.8-3.5 of 10, P<0.001); however, concomitant conservative therapy showed no difference in treatment outcome. Conclusion: The results of this study clarify the disease identity of PTA in TMJ and suggest early diagnosis and treatment options to manage PTA in TMJ.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.169-179
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• 2016

Purpose: This study is designed to analyse etiology and bone pattern at the first visit using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to evaluate the treatment outcome of conservative treatment in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: One hundred condyles in 50 subjects with RA were chosen among the patients who presented to the Department of Oral Medicine of Pusan National University Dental Hospital, diagnosed as TMD. Condylar bone changes were classified by normal, erosive bony change, proliferative bony change and combined group (erosive bony change+proliferative bony change). They were treated conservatively with physical therapy, medication, behavioral therapy and/or occlusal stabilizing splint therapy. After 3 months on average, patients were re-evaluated with regards to subjective symptoms and the clinical findings were investigated. Results: TMD patients with RA have behavioral contributing factors such as parafunctional habit. The results that analyse bone pattern at the first visit using CBCT proliferative bony changes group (32.6%) were more common than erosive bony changes group (15.2%). In comparison between unilateral and bilateral bony change in temporomandibular joint, the ratio showed no significant differences. After 3 months of conservative treatments, pain, noise, limitation of motion (LOM) were markedly improved regardless of occlusal splint therapy. However only LOM was significantly improved through occlusal splint therapy during 3 months. Conclusions: TMD patients with RA had similar behavioral contributing factors and characteristics of CBCT images shown in general TMD patients and also similar response to conservative treatment so it is difficult to differentiate. Therefore when TMD patients show symptoms corresponding to clinical diagnostic criteria of RA at the first visit, serological testing should be conducted and through this, early diagnosis and treatment of RA should be initiated.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2018

Purpose: To evaluate osseous changes of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to correlate the imaging findings with the severity of TMJ dysfunction, clinical findings, and laboratory findings. Materials and Methods: This study consisted of 28 subjects, including 14 RA patients and 14 controls, who were scheduled to undergo CBCT imaging for the diagnosis of a complaint not related to or affecting the TMJ. The Fonseca's questionnaire was used to assess the severity of TMJ dysfunction. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were assessed in the RA patients. CBCT was then performed in all subjects and osseous TMJ abnormalities were assessed. Results: According to the Fonseca's questionnaire, 14.3% of the patients had no TMJ dysfunction, while 50%, 21.4%, and 14.3% had mild, moderate, and severe dysfunction, respectively. RF was positive in 64.3% of patients, and the ESR level was high in 100%. Imaging findings revealed a statistically significantly higher prevalence of erosion (85.7%), flattening (89.3%), osteophyte formation (32.1%), subchondral cyst (32.1%), sclerosis (64.3%), and condylar irregularities (28.6%) in the RA patients than in the controls. No correlations were found between CBCT findings and the clinical findings, the severity of TMJ dysfunction, disease duration, or laboratory results. Conclusion: RA patients might show extensive osseous abnormalities with no/mild clinical signs or symptoms of TMJ dysfunction that necessitate TMJ imaging for these patients. CBCT is a valuable and efficient modality that can assess osseous TMJ changes in RA patients.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.100-106
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the relationship between temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and the asymmetry of the mandibular height. Methods: We compared 100 randomly selected TMD patients diagnosed by the research diagnostic criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD) Axis I with 100 non-TMD control subjects matched with the TMD patients in age and gender. The mandibular heights were measured on an orthopantomogram and the asymmetry index (AI) was calculated as previously described. Results: The absolute AI value of 4.37% turned out to be the least cut-off value defining asymmetry, which showed a significant difference in asymmetry incidence (p<0.01) between the TMD and control groups. The risk of TMD increased in the asymmetry group by 4.57 (odds ratio). The incidence of asymmetry was not related to age and gender in both of the TMD and control groups. When dividing the TMD group according to the RDC/TMD Axis I diagnosis, neither the incidence of muscle disorder nor disk displacement was related to the incidence of asymmetry. However, a higher incidence of asymmetry was observed in the subjects classified into the arthrosis/arthritis groups (p<0.01). Conclusions: Although it does not imply a direct cause-and-effect relationship, asymmetry resulting in more than 4.37% difference between mandibular heights may increase the risk of TMD and correlates positively to the incidence of arthritic change in the temporomandibular joint of TMD patients.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.717-728
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• 1998

The Temporomandibural joint(TMJ) is one of the most frequently used joint in the body as $1,500{\sim}2,000$ times per day for the activities of chewing, swallowing, talking, yawing and sneezing. The TMJ are formed by condylar process of mandible and mandible fossa of temporal bone, separated by an articular disc. This articular disc divides into two cavities as upper cavity and lower cavity. The gliding movement occurs in the upper cavity of the joint, whereas hinge movement occurs in the lower cavity. The movements that are allowed at the TMJ are opening, closing, protrusion, retraction and lateral movement. A cause of TMJ dysfunction are capsulitis, internal derangement, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, infection and inflammation near the joint, trauma on joint, ankylosis, subluxation or dislocation of joint, injury of articular disc, myositis, muscle contracture or spasm, myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome, dyskinesia of masticatory muscles, developmental abnormality, tumor, connective tissue disease, fibrosis, malocclusion, swallowing abnormality, wrong habits such as bite nail or hair, bruxism, psycological stress and Costen syndrome etc. Assessment of TMJ dysfunction consist of interview, observation, functional examination, palpation, reflex test, joint play test, electromyography and radiologic examination and behavioral and psycological assessment etc.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.232-236
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• 2018

Objectives: Hormonal changes during menopause alter a woman's susceptibility to some disorders. Information regarding the prevalence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) in menopausal women is limited in the literature. In this study, the prevalence and severity of TMDs were compared between menopausal and non-menopausal women. Materials and Methods: The study included 140 women (69 premenopausal and 71 postmenopausal) 45 to 55 years of age that were examined in Shiraz Dental School, Shiraz in Iran. The Helkimo clinical dysfunction index (Di) was used to evaluate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. The data were analyzed using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Results: Occurrence of TMD was significantly higher in menopausal than non-menopausal women (P<0.001). All the TMD criteria based on Helkimo Di except range of mandibular movement were significantly more common in menopausal women. The range of mandibular movement was not significantly different between menopausal and non-menopausal women (P=0.178). Conclusion: The results from this study show that TMD can be considered more common and severe in menopausal than non-menopausal women. This finding indicates that, similar to other conditions in menopausal women such as arthritis and osteoporosis, TMD should be taken into consideration by dental and medical professionals.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.89-101
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in children and adolescents, their characteristic contributing factors, the characteristic features of symptoms and symptoms, and the response to treatment. Methods: We studied the researches, that were the results of the searches for words such as temporomandibular disorder, TMD, children, adolescents, and juvenile through PubMed and DBpia. Results: According to a study conducted in Busan, the ratio of adolescents increased from 18.3% to 21% in 2008 compared to 2000, and the proportion of boys increased from 38.58% to 45.38%. One of the characteristic contributing factors for adolescents is the macrotrauma such as jaw trauma, vehicle accidents, sports, physical abuse, forceful intubation, and third molar extraction. The second is a microtrauma from parafunctional habit such as bruxism, clenching, hyperextension, wind instrument, and fingernail biting that can cause joint overload, cartilage breakdown, synovial fluid alterations, and other changes within the joint. The diagnosis of TMDs in juvenile adolescents is not significantly different from that of adults. Medical history, clinical examination and radiological examinations are required. Conclusions: In the temporomandibular joint history and assessment, all comprehensive dental history examination is required, including head and neck pain, mandibular dysfunction, previous orofacial trauma, history of present illness with an account of current symptoms. For the treatment and management of temporomandibular arthritis in juvenile adolescents, understanding the characteristics of TMDs in juvenile adolescents and thoroughly analyzing appropriate diagnosis and possible contributing factors through comprehensive history taking & examination, conservative treatment, including fast and active cautions education, will be essential.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.511-517
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• 1995

Bone scan is a very sensitive diagnostic imaging test for detecting bone and joint disorders. So it might be useful in the diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders of the joint origin. Thus, the effectiveness of bone scan for detecting temporomandibular joint(TMJ) diseases and differentiating the TMJ disc displacement from the TMJ arthritis was evaluated. Bone scan was done in 21 patients with TMJ disc displacement(13 unilaterally affected, 8 bilaterally affected), 25 patients with TMJ arthritis(23 unilateral, 3 bilateral), and 39 volunteers with no signs, symtoms, or history of TMJ disease. TMJ simple uptake rate(SUR) and difference of both TMJ SUR were calculated from the 100,000 count lateral image of head and neck region in 99mTc MDP bone scan. Transcranial and panorama X-ray examination was also done in all patients. TMJ SUR(%) were $1.673{\pm}0.606$ in TMJs affected with arthritis, $1350{\pm}0.351$ in TMJs affected with disc displacement, and $1.084{\pm}0.172$ in TMJs of controls. Significant differences were demonstrated among them(p<0.01) Difference of bith TMJ SUR was highest in patients with unilateral TMJ arthritis($0.608{\pm}$0.533, p<001), and there is no significant difference between that of controls and that of unilateral TMJ dist displacement patients($0.062{\pm}0.063$ vs $0.122{\pm}0.100$). TMJ SUR of Joint with bone change on X-ray finding was not significantly different from that of joint with normal X-ray finding. Those in patients with unilateral TMJ disc displacement(696% and 87% vs 23.1% and 23%). The proportions of patients with increased TMJ SUR and difference of both TMJ SUR(>mean+2SD of controls) in unilateral TMJ arthritis patients were significantly higher than those in patients with unilateral TMJ disc displacement(69.6% and 87% vs 23.1% and 23%). Conclusively, bone scan nay help to detect TMJ disease and differentiate TMJ disc displacement from TMJ arthritis.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.212-218
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• 2003

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in the normal morphogenesis, maintenance, and repair of matrix and also have important functions in pathologic conditions characterized by excessive degradation of extracellular matrix, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, periodontitis and in tumor invasion and metastasis. In this study, expression of MMP-1 and -2 mRNA in retrodiscal tissue of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) was examined and compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and surgical findings. MMP mRNAs in the retrodiscal tissue samples were detected by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction. TMJ internal derangement (ID) was categorized as normal disc position, disc displacement with reduction, early stage of disc displacement without reduction (DDsR) and late stage of DDsR. TMJ osteoarthrosis (OA) was classified with normal, mild and advanced OA. The amount of synovial fluid collection was divided into not detected, small, large and extremely large amount on MR T2-weighted imaging. Perforation and adhesion were examined during open surgery of the TMJ. Six out of 37 samples were excluded because of little amount of extracted total mRNA. MMP-2 mRNA was detected whole joints, and so the MMP-2 mRNA seems to be expressed normally in retrodiscal tissue. However, MMP-1 mRNA was expressed in 8 of 31 joints. Frequencies of MMP-1 mRNA expression according to the TMJ IDs, amount of synovial fluid and surgical findings made no significant difference. MMP-1 mRNA was detected more frequently in OA groups (7/16 joints, 43.8%) than in normal bony structure group (1/15 joints, 6.7%). Expression of MMP-1 mRNA in retrodiscal tissue might be related with OA of the TMJ.