Subjective symptoms from the stomatognathic system in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthrosis

A group of 123 individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA-group) and 28 individuals with osteoarthrosis (OA-group) with previous or current symptoms from the stomatognathic system were compared with 52 individuals without general joint symptoms (C-group). The individuals in the RA- and OA-group attended the Rheumatism Hospital in Strängnäs, Sweden. They constituted 35 and 14%, respectively, of all individuals with RA and OA at the Hospital during the period of investigation. The individuals in the C-group attended the Public Dental Clinic in Strängnäs for regular dental care. All individuals were given a questionnaire concerning subjective symptoms from the stomatognathic system, general joint symptoms, dental condition and need of dental care. It was found that the individuals in the RA and OA-group generally had more frequent and more severe subjective symptoms of longer duration from the stomatognathic system than the individuals in the C-group. The subjective symptoms, especially in the RA-group, were correlated to the extension of the general joint symptoms. Reports of swelling of the TMJ and a sudden debut of symptoms were more frequent in the RA-group than in the OA- and C-group. Loss of contact between anterior teeth was reported in both diseases and was correlated to extension and duration of RA and extension of OA. The TMJ symptoms started frequently in the early phase of RA and chewing ability deteriorated with extension and duration.