BITE FORCE AND TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDER IN JUVENILE CHRONIC ARTHRITIS

The aim of this study was to investigate the functional condition of t he stomatognathic system in children suffering from juvenile chronic a rthritis, with respect to bite force and temporomandibular disorder in relation to radiographic abnormalities of the mandibular condyle, occ lusal factors and systemic disease parameters. Thirty-five children wi th juvenile chronic arthritis were compared to 89 healthy children wit h an Angle Class I occlusion and 62 children with an Angle Class II ma locclusion. Subjective symptoms and clinical signs of temporomandibula r disorder and radiographic mandibular condylar changes were more comm on in children with juvenile chronic arthritis than in the two compari son groups. Maximal molar and incisal bite forces and maximal molar bi te force endurance times were also significantly reduced in children w ith juvenile chronic arthritis. It is concluded that the differences b etween the groups are caused mainly by the systemic inflammatory disea se itself, but a functional influence of weakened masticatory muscles cannot be excluded.