Supervisors info:
Δρούκας Βύρων, Τζάκης Μιχαήλ, Τζιούφας Αθανάσιος, Ψάρρας Βασίλειος
Summary:
The need to clarify whether patients with RA under therapy exhibit the same
results to their TMJ as with other joints, formed the idea of a specifically
formated questionnaire, to be used by rheumatologists and dentists and assist
them in distinguishing RA patients who may require specialised care, delivered
by a gnathologist.
In addition to the aforementioned questionnaire, during this research
the following was also assessed: the frequency of Temporomandibular Disorders
(TMD) in RA patients, whether or not they chose to seek specialized help for
it, how far into the disease duration TMD appeared, and whether patients felt
their treatment was equally effective to their TMJ as to other joints.
The patients who took part in this research were RA patients randomly
coming to the University’s Pathophysiology Clinic of Laiko General Hospital
during the clinic’s normal working hours. Once they signed the consent form,
they answered the questionnaire put together for this research, and then were
examined and assessed according to the protocol of the international research
criteria RDC-TMD. Data gathered were evaluated so that the questionnaire could
be assessed and validated. Statistical analysis was done according to the
Chi-square test and p value was set to 0.05.
The findings were as follows: Twenty-five patients (68%) were diagnosed
with TMD, according to the RDC-TMD criteria. According to the results, 12
questions were found to have statistical significance. Of these:
4 questions can be used for a future questionnaire, as they were found
to be significantly positively cross-correlated with a TMD diagnosis. Those 4
possible diagnostic questions had satisfactory credibility as they scored a
Cronbach’s alpha 0.68. In those questions the patients stated that there was no
pain in their face/jaw (both as the mean, and as the worst pain during the last
3 months), that they felt pain and/or sensitivity in other joints besides TMJ,
and that hey had a dry mouth.
8 questions were found to be significantly negatively cross-correlated
with an RCD-TMD dysfunction diagnosis. Those questions could be further
researched.
The rest of the questions could not be cross-correlated and need to be
further researched.
Keywords:
Rheumatoid arthritis, Temporomandibular disfunction, Pain, Questionnaire, RDC-TMD
