Oral Submucous Fibrosis- A Forerunner of TMJ Changes

K.M.K. Masthan, N. Aravindha Babu, S. Leena Shankari and K. Gayathiri

Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Sree Balaji Dental College& Hospital, Bharath University, Chennai, India.

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/1119

ABSTRACT: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a high risk precancerous condition and its major etiological factor is chewing areca nut. It causes a progressive inability to open the mouth due to stiffness of oral mucosa leading to temporomandibularjoint changes. Temporomandibular joint is a synovial joint and oral submucous fibrosis results in reluctant movement of the jaws and its disuse occurs. Temporomandibular joint is vulnerable to changes,thus changes due to immobilization of the temporomandibular joint are expected in oral submucous fibrosis.Immobilization of the synovial joints has effects on the morphologic, biochemical and biomechanical characterization of its components, muscles and periauricular tissues. Immobilization also causes reduced water and glycosaminoglycan content thus causing impaired lubrication. Immobilization also affects the movement of synovial fluid as mentioned previously. Also reduced haemoglobin level in OSMF is likely to interfere with the bone metabolism of the condyle and mandibular fossa.

KEYWORDS: Oralsubmucous fibrosis; temporomandibular joint; synovial joint

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