TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDER IN PATIENTS WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE – A PILOT STUDY

Background
The number of patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) is increasing in clinical dental practice. Our study aimed to determine whether a correlation between Parkinson’s disease and TMD symptoms can be established.

Material and methods
The anamnestic and clinical dysfunctional indices and the correlations related to the quality of life (SF 36, QoL) of Parkinson’s disease patients (PG, n=35) and healthy controls (CG, n=42) were examined in a cross-sectional study. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 24.0 software.

Results
The mean value (7.0±7.7) of the PG in the OHIP-14 (Oral Health Impact Profile) questionnaire was significantly higher (p<0.001) than that of the CG (2.0±3.7). The ratio of belonging to the asymptomatic (Ai0) group was higher in the CG (71.4%) than in the PG (45.7%). The number of moderate or severe symptoms (DiII and DiIII) was higher in the PG (37.1%) than in the CG (2.4%). The mean value of QoL of the PG (60.9±20.1) was significantly lower (p<0.001) than that of the CG (75.9±15.3).

Conclusions
Results of the study support that patients with Parkinson’s disease have a higher incidence of TMD. Using the SF-36, we were able to quantify lower QoL of the PG.