Radiographic changes in the temporomandibular joint of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic, arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

Sixty-one subjects with rheumatoid arthritis, 61 with psoriatic arthritis, 61 with ankylosing spondylitis, and 77 healthy controls were examined using orthopantomography to determine the frequency of radiographic changes in the condyle of the temporomandibular joint. Radiographic changes were found significantly more often in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (66%), psoriatic arthritis (38%), and ankylosing spondylitis (30%) than in controls (12%). Subjects with rheumatoid arthritis also had significantly more radiographic changes, especially cortical erosions and subcortical cysts, than subjects with psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis. It may be concluded that rheumatoid arthritis is a more severe disease than psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing arthritis regarding temporomandibular joint involvement.