Functional, physical and psychosocial impact of degenerative temporomandibular joint disease

This study evaluated the functional, physical and psychosocial impacts of TMJ degenerative joint disease (DJD). The bearing of TMJ osteoarthrosis/osteoarthritis and early/late TMJ DJD on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) were also compared.

Participants were enrolled from a TMD/oro-facial pain centre. Those diagnosed with intra-articular conditions based on the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular disorders (DC/TMD) were subjected to CBCT assessment and categorised into four discrete groups: NN-no TMJ DJD and no arthralgia; NA-no TMJ DJD with arthralgia; TO-TMJ osteoarthrosis; and TR-TMJ osteoarthritis. The TO/TR groups were subdivided into early/late TMJ osteoarthrosis (EO/LO) and osteoarthritis (ER/LR). OHRQoL was examined using the OHIP-TMD, and data were appraised with the Kruskal-Wallis/Mann-Whitney U tests (α = 0.05).

The study participant (n = 358) had a mean age of 31.85 ± 12.39 years (85.6% women). Frequencies of the TMD groups were as follows: NN-23.2%; NA-27.1%; TO-19.0%; and TR-30.7%. Participants with TR/NA had significantly worse OHRQoL than those with TO/NN. Additionally, participants with ER/LR reported significantly poorer OHRQoL than their counterparts with EO/LO. For all TMD groups and TMJ DJD subgroups, the psychological discomfort domain was generally the most impaired. Differences in global OHIP scores were significant between participants with and without arthralgia (i.e., NA-NN, ER-EO and LR-LO).

The presence of TMJ pain appeared to impair OHRQoL more than the severity of TMJ DJD. As psychological domains were most impacted, psychosocial care should be incorporated when managing patients with painful TMJ DJD.