Purpose: To compare characteristics of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to patients without RA.
Materials and methods: The sample included 80 patients (aged 33 to 73 years; 88% women and 22% men) with 40 in each group. An international diagnostic protocol for TMDs was followed.
Results: Arthralgia was the most prevalent TMD in the RA group. Orofacial pain was more common in the RA group than in the controls (42.5% vs 15%, P = .031), with higher chronic pain grade and pain intensity (P ≤ .005). Somatization and depression were also increased (P < .001). In multiple logistic regression analysis, arthralgia (OR: 6.4; 95% CI: 1.1 to 37.1; P = .038) and age ≥ 55 years were predictors of RA (OR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.4 to 10.8; P = .009) when controlling for the effects of biological sex and pain intensity. TMDs were related to 7.4 times higher odds for presence of orofacial pain, while RA was related to 3.4 times higher odds for pain.
Conclusions: RA patients experienced more orofacial pain and higher pain intensity, somatization, and depression compared to healthy individuals. Pain is more influenced by TMDs than by RA. Int J Prosthodont 2023;36:630-636.