VOLUME 6 - NUMBER 1 - 2026

Effectiveness of conservative approaches for temporomandibular joint arthritis in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a scoping review

  • Martina Ferrillo, Romina Gallizzi, Nicola Marotta, Marco Mazzei, Chiara Conte, Antonio Ammendolia, Amerigo Giudice, Alessandro de Sire
  • Concise reviews, 22-32
  • Full text PDF

  • Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a heterogeneous group of chronic inflammatory diseases affecting connective tissue, with onset before the age of 16 years and characterized by the persistence of an arthritic pattern for at least six weeks. Among the potentially involved joints, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is clinically relevant, as it can be affected in 39%–78% of patients with JIA, both at disease onset and throughout its course.

    Aim: This scoping review set out to analyze the available scientific evidence on the effectiveness of conservative approaches in improving the clinical signs and symptoms of TMJ arthritis in children and adolescents with JIA.

    Methods: A scoping review design and methodology was selected, and the main databases (PubMed/Medline and Scopus) were searched. To be eligible for inclusion, articles had to be in English and involve patients with a diagnosis of JIA affecting the TMJ, who were treated with conservative approaches for TMJ arthritis (physiotherapy, intra-articular and/or extra-articular injections, arthrocentesis, and functional appliances), evaluated using clinical or radiological measures (maximal incisal opening, MRI findings, pain Visual Analog Scale score).

    Results: Out of 215 papers suitable for title/abstract screening, 17 studies were included. The included studies evaluated the effectiveness of intra-articular corticosteroid (IACS) injections, arthrocentesis alone or in combination with IACS injections, intra-articular infliximab injections, functional appliances, occlusal splint, and physiotherapy.

    Conclusion: Currently available evidence suggests that conservative approaches play a central role in the management of TMJ arthritis in pediatric patients with JIA. IACS infiltrations are effective in controlling pain and inflammation in the short term, and arthrocentesis, conservative orthodontic therapies, occlusal splints, and physiotherapy represent valid alternatives or complementary treatments.

  • KEY WORDS: TMJ arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, orofacial pain, rehabilitation, temporomandibular joint disorders.