Morphologic Study : TMJ Degenerative Changes Associated with Dental Factors

Introduction: Dental parafunctions and loss of posterior occlusal support have been proposed among the etiologic factors for temporomandibular joint osteoarthrosis (TMJ OA) development. Objectives: To assess the association between the presence and extent of TMJ OA and dental variables: ante mortem occlusal support and dental attrition. Method: Skeletal remnants from the skulls of a Romano-Byzantine collection of 139 subjects were examined macroscopically, focusing on TMJ arthrotic lesions, loss of molar support and occlusal attrition. Subjects over 17 years, with at least a portion of either the left or right TMJ, were scored for severity of arthrotic lesions on the mandibular condyle, dental attrition level and loss of molar support. Results: A total of 58 condyles and dentate jaws could be studied, 22 (38%) females and 36 (62%) males, average age 38.4 years. Loss of molar support was significantly correlated with TMJ OA severity (r=0.37, p=0.005). There was no significant correlation for dental attrition with the severity of TMJ OA. Age was significantly correlated with both loss of molar support (r=0.5,p<0.01) and dental attrition (r=0.7,p<0.01), but not with TMJ OA severity. No differences were found between genders regarding each variable examined. Conclusion: The correlation between loss of molar support and TMJ arthrotic lesion severity suggests that occlusal support could have an influence, separate from aging, on TMJ OA development.