title: Systemic health consequences of alloplastic implants of the TMJ: a pilot study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the relation between alloplastic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) implants and immune-associated systemic health problems. The authors compared 14 patients who received alloplastic TMJ implants with 31 TMJ patients who had never received surgery on the self-reported occurrence of symptoms and systemic disorders that are associated with problems of immunomodulation. Those with alloplastic jaw implants reported similar or lower rates of surveyed physical disorders than nonsurgical TMJ participants. When the rates were summed across symptom categories and physical disorders, implant participants had significantly fewer symptoms and disorders than nonsurgical participants (P < 0.01). This first report on systemic health problems in alloplastic TMJ implant patients found no evidence of elevated rates of systemic disorders that are associated with problems of immunomodulation.
authors.affiliation: New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark 07107-3000, USA.
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Raphael
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Marbach
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bartlett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D007595:Joint Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000209:etiology