Correlation between arthritic changes in cervical vertebrae and tmj

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common pathologic conditions affecting the cervical spine and other joints, including the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). There are various theories regarding the etiology of vertebral and joint degeneration, the most common being physiologic degeneration with increasing age. Typically, degeneration is restricted to a specific joint, but often when there is a transfer of load, there could be degenerative changes associated with joints in the vicinity as a result of a compensatory load transfer mechanism.
Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics - Category: ENT & OMF Authors: Source Type: research