Orofacial pain and dysfunction in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a case-control study

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) frequently causes temporomandibular joint (TMJ) inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of orofacial pain and temporomandibular dysfunction in patients with JIA and controls. METHODS. Forty-one patients with JIA and 41 age- and sex-matched healthy controls participated. Subjects were asked about facial pain variables and their influence on daily life. A clinical examination was performed. Panoramic radiograph and medical data were extracted from the records.

Thirty-three of the JIA patients reported TMJ or facial pain compared to four of the controls (p < 0.001). Nine of the JIA patients, compared to none of the controls, reported that their orofacial symptoms influenced daily life severely (p < 0.001). Clinical findings were more prevalent in JIA (p < 0.001). The assessments of disease activity correlated to palpation pain of jaw muscles (p < 0.001) whereas the presence of structural TMJ changes correlated to reduced jaw opening (p < 0.001).

TMJ pain was prevalent in patients with JIA and influenced daily life severely for nearly a quarter of them. Collaboration between medical and dental care is therefore important.