Alterações osteodegenerativas em côndilo mandibular e eminência articular em relação a diferentes padrões de perda dentária

Abstract

Degenerative bone changes such as osteoarthrosis and osteoarthritis, and remodeling of the temporomandibular joint are frequent findings in human beings and many factors are listed as possible triggers for these processes. Dental losses and subsequent occlusal imbalances seem to have an effect on TMJ, considering the close conecction between such structures. The aim of this study was to review the scientific literature in order to verify an association between bone changes in terms of shape of the mandibular condyle and joint eminence and osteodegenerative changes in association with different patterns of tooth loss. This study was a qualitative and descriptive literature review. It was elaborated from searches on the PubMed platform using the terms "Temporomandibular joint", "Tooth loss", "Mandibular condyle", "Osteoarthritis”, “Osteoarthrosis". Literature reviews and systematic articles, meta analyzes, observational studies and essays, with free electronic availability, written in Portuguese or English, published between 1981 and 2018, were included. It was observed that altered mechanical loads trigger a cascade of molecular events that lead to disease, and that tooth loss, especially in the posterior region, has a great potential to modify the burden directed to the temporomandibular joint. In addition, factors such as age and sex, associated with tooth loss presented major correlation with remodeling and osteodegeneration. The posterior tooth loss presented itself as a contributing factor in the incursion of such diseases and changes in shape. However, further research in human beings is required to evaluate in more detail the effects of previous tooth loss, considering the lack of disocclusion guides and laterality, coming from the shortage of dental elements.