A cross-sectional study of the relationship between serum sexual hormone levels and internal derangement of temporomandibular joint

Estrogen Hormones' Implications on the Physiopathology of Temporomandibular Dysfunction

Background/Objectives: Temporomandibular dysfunction syndrome consists of several disorders of the masticatory system, namely those of the muscles, the joint itself, as well as the dental and periodontal system. This syndrome is often characterized by pain and an inability to perform functions within the dental-maxillary apparatus, which creates a certain degree of disability in patients. Women are more susceptible to this syndrome than men and hormonal factors, particularly estrogen, are central to its etiology and physiopathology. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases regarding articles published from January 2008 to December 2023. Two authors conducted searches in the mentioned databases based on a pre-established search strategy using agreed-upon keywords. Additionally, each review author performed the selection process of eligible studies based on established inclusion criteria. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale and Risk of Bias tool 2 were used to assess each article for its methodological quality. Results: Of the 1030 records found in the four bibliographic databases, 22 studies were included in this review. Polymorphism in the alpha estrogen receptor appears to be significantly more prevalent in women with temporomandibular dysfunction, suggesting a genetic predisposition. There is a significant role of estrogen in the physiopathology of TMD-related pain. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a significantly higher incidence of TMD, accompanied by elevated inflammatory factors and decreased progesterone levels. In premenopausal women, there is scientific relevance to the association between beta-estradiol levels and TMD development and progression. The effects of estrogen hormones on temporomandibular dysfunction remain highly debated and challenging. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of considering hormonal factors, genetic predisposition, and reproductive life stages in understanding and managing temporomandibular dysfunction. Further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms underlying these associations.

Association of climacterium with temporomandibular disorders at the age of 46 years – a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Hormonal factors have been suggested to contribute to female dominance among subjects with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Aim of the study was to examine the association of climacteric status with TMD amongst female participants in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort (NFBC) 1966 at 46 years of age.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Among female subjects in NFBC1966, climacteric status was determined based on menstrual anamnesis and measurement of blood follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Women with FSH > 25 IU/L and amenorrhoea > 4 months were defined as climacteric (case group, n = 71); women not diagnosed as climacteric were defined as preclimacteric (control group, n = 656). Differences between cases and controls were evaluated on self-reported TMD pain, clinical TMD signs and TMD diagnoses using modified Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC/TMD) protocol. Crosstabulation and logistic regression models were used to analyse differences between cases and controls.

RESULTS

Compared to preclimacteric women, climacteric women had significantly more often pain on palpation in temporomandibular joints (TMJs) (OR = 2.64, 95% CI 1.12-6.21, p= .026) and more crepitus in TMJs (OR = 2.92, 95% CI 1.13-7.56, p= .027). Degenerative joint disease diagnoses were more common in climacteric than preclimacteric women (OR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.05-4.91, p= .037). Differences were statistically significant after adjusting for confounding factors (body mass index (BMI), smoking, parity). No statistically significant differences in self-reported TMD pain were noted between groups.

CONCLUSION

Among females at the age of 46 years, climacterium seems associated with TMD by increasing pain on palpation in TMJs, subjective symptoms, and clinical signs indicating degenerative changes in TMJs when using DC/TMD.

Progesterone Attenuates Allodynia of Inflamed Temporomandibular Joint through Modulating Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel 1.7 in Trigeminal Ganglion

Background

Women with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) experience some amelioration of pain during pregnancy. Progesterone increases dramatically and steadily during pregnancy. Sodium channel 1.7 (Nav1.7) plays a prominent role in pain perceptions, as evidenced by deletion of Nav1.7 alone leading to a complete loss of pain. In a previous study, we showed that Nav1.7 in trigeminal ganglion (TG) is involved in allodynia of inflamed temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Whether progesterone modulates allodynia of inflamed TMJ through Nav1.7 in TG remains to be investigated.

Methods

The effects of progesterone on sodium currents of freshly isolated TG neurons were examined using whole-cell recording. Female rats were ovariectomized and treated with increasing doses of progesterone for 10 days. Complete Freund's adjuvant was administered intra-articularly to induce TMJ inflammation. TMJ nociceptive responses were evaluated by head withdrawal thresholds. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to examine Nav1.7 mRNA and protein expression in TG. Immunohistofluorescence was used to examine the colocalization of progesterone receptors (PRα/β) and Nav1.7 in TG.

Results

Whole-cell recording showed that progesterone could attenuate sodium currents. Moreover, progesterone dose-dependently downregulated Nav1.7 mRNA expression and reduced the sensitivity of TMJ nociception in ovariectomized rats. Furthermore, treatment with progesterone attenuated allodynia of inflamed TMJ in a dose-dependent manner and repressed inflammation-induced Nav1.7 mRNA and protein expression in ovariectomized rats. The progesterone receptor antagonist, RU-486, partially reversed the effect of progesterone on allodynia of inflamed TMJ and TMJ inflammation-induced Nav1.7 mRNA and protein expression.

Conclusion

Progesterone, by modulating trigeminal ganglionic Nav1.7, may represent a promising agent to prevent allodynia of inflamed TMJ.

Effects of estradiol hormone in menopausal women on anterior disc displacement of temporomandibular joint

Anterior disc displacement is a condition when the articular disc is in the anterior normal position. Epidemiological research shows that the prevalence of TMD is higher in women than in men. Women have a dominant hormone that is not owned by men, the hormone estradiol. Estrogen receptors and the hormone progesterone are found in articular joints in humans. Joint structure, extracellular matrix remodeling, and bone volume modification can be affected by sexual hormones. It was thought to cause changes in connective tissue in the TMJ structure. This study aims to determine the effect of the level of the hormone estradiol in menopausal women on anterior temporal disc displacement of the temporomandibular joint. Subjects were 40 postmenopausal women who were examined for temporomandary joints. The diagnosis of anterior disc displacement was made using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC / TMD) method. Subjects were grouped into subjects with normal tempromandibular joints and subjects with anterior disc displacement. Estradiol hormone was examined by the immunoassay method. This study’s conclusion is estradiol hormone in menopausal women with anterior disc displacement is higher than menopausal women without anterior disc displacement.

Comparison of temporomandibular disorders between menopausal and non-menopausal women

Objectives

Hormonal changes during menopause alter a woman's susceptibility to some disorders. Information regarding the prevalence of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) in menopausal women is limited in the literature. In this study, the prevalence and severity of TMDs were compared between menopausal and non-menopausal women.

Materials and Methods

The study included 140 women (69 premenopausal and 71 postmenopausal) 45 to 55 years of age that were examined in Shiraz Dental School, Shiraz in Iran. The Helkimo clinical dysfunction index (Di) was used to evaluate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. The data were analyzed using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests.

Results

Occurrence of TMD was significantly higher in menopausal than non-menopausal women (P<0.001). All the TMD criteria based on Helkimo Di except range of mandibular movement were significantly more common in menopausal women. The range of mandibular movement was not significantly different between menopausal and non-menopausal women (P=0.178).

Conclusion

The results from this study show that TMD can be considered more common and severe in menopausal than non-menopausal women. This finding indicates that, similar to other conditions in menopausal women such as arthritis and osteoporosis, TMD should be taken into consideration by dental and medical professionals.

Perception of the signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder in females by using the ProTMDMulti protocol and the visual analog scale before and after acupuncture treatment

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the perceptions of patients with TMD in relation to the signs and symptoms before and after acupuncture treatment, according to the ProTMDMulti and the VAS.

METHOD

68 patients were divided into groups: muscle TMD treated with acupuncture at local points (MUS-LP), muscle TMD with acupuncture at distant points (MUS-DP), joint and muscle treated with LP (JOI-LP) and joint and muscle treated with DP (JOI-DP). The evaluations were performed at four times: initial, control, final and follow-up.

RESULTS

The best results were seen in the JOI-LP and the MUS-DP groups, in which the perceptions of the signs and symptoms were statistically lower in the final assessment than in the initial (P<0.05). In all groups, the final and the follow-up evaluations were similar.

CONCLUSIONS

For TMDs with joint components, the best acupuncture treatment involves local points and for the TMDs with muscle components, points at a distance.