[Dental occlusion and temporomandibular involvement in rheumatic pathology]

A clinical trial was performed in order to highlight the signs and symptoms of mandibular dysfunction in a sample group of 51 adults affected by chronic rheumatoid arthritis. Results were quantified according to Helkimo's indices and compared to those in a control group of nonrheumatic adults. The prevalence was found to be statistically significant. Dental support, calculated according to Eichner, appears to play an important role. Results in the same subjects were also compared with systemic articular involvement and Ritchie's index, but did not reveal significant associations. This underlines the peculiarity of the masticatory dysfunction, its relative autonomy and multifactorial etiopathogenesis.