Imaging signs of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis in an urban population of 65-year-olds: A cone beam computed tomography study.

Background: Symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) may vary and possible causes should be further explored, such as prevalence and characteristics of imaging features.

Objectives: Investigate prevalence, gender differences and characteristics of imaging signs of TMJ-OA by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in a population-based sample of 65-year-old Oslo citizens.

Materials And Methods: 159 (86 women, 73 men) individuals randomly recruited from a cohort of 460 Oslo citizens were examined with CBCT. The TMJs were categorised as with imaging signs of OA, no OA or indeterminate for OA.

Results: CBCT signs of TMJ-OA were found in 35% of the 159 participants: 47% of the women and 22% of the men. CBCT signs of TMJ-OA were unilateral in two-thirds of the TMJs and characterised by articular surface flattening and condylar osteophytes. In almost all joints with bone erosive findings, bone productive findings were also found. Participants with and without CBCT signs of TMJ-OA showed no significant difference in TMD pain screener. Fourteen of the 159 participants (9%) had pain-related TMD and 12 (8%) had been in contact with health care services due to TMD.

Conclusions: CBCT signs of TMJ-OA was common in this study group of 65-year-old Oslo citizens, found in every second woman and every fifth man. Articular surface flattening and bone productive changes, in particular condylar osteophytes, were the most frequent imaging features. Despite the high frequency of CBCT signs of TMJ-OA, few of the participants had pain-related TMD.