EVALUATION OF PREVALENCE AND SEVERITY OF TMJ DISORDER IN ADULTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN-A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDYEVALUATION OF PREVALENCE AND SEVERITY OF TMJ DISORDER IN ADULTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN-A CROSS

Background: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) plays an essential role in mastication, speech, and facial movement, and is frequently affected by systemic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Chronic inflammation in RA can lead to temporomandibular disorders (TMD), causing pain, restricted movement, and reduced quality of life. Despite its clinical significance, limited data exist regarding TMJ involvement among RA patients in Pakistan. Objective: To determine the prevalence and severity of temporomandibular joint disorders among patients with rheumatoid arthritis using the Fonseca Anamnestic Index and Visual Analogue Scale. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 156 clinically diagnosed RA patients aged 25–45 years from multiple hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. Both male and female participants were included. Data were collected using the Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to assess the presence and intensity of TMJ dysfunction. Ethical approval was obtained prior to data collection, and informed consent was secured from each participant. Descriptive analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, and results were expressed in frequencies and percentages. Results: Among the 156 participants, 128 (82.1%) were female and 28 (17.9%) were male, with a mean age of 37.67 ± 7.14 years. Based on the FAI scoring, 21.8% had no TMD, 43.6% had mild TMD, 24.4% had moderate TMD, and 10.3% had severe TMD. Pain severity measured by VAS showed that 21.8% had no pain, 43.6% had mild pain, 24.4% moderate, 4.5% severe, and 5.8% reported the worst pain. Conclusion: The study demonstrated a high prevalence of temporomandibular disorders among rheumatoid arthritis patients, predominantly mild in severity, with females being more frequently affected than males. These findings highlight the need for early TMJ assessment and multidisciplinary management in RA patients to prevent chronic dysfunction.