Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction as the First Articular Sign in Psoriatic Arthritis: Case Report

Psoriatic arthritis (PA) is a chronic systemic disease that is difficult to recognize. The diagnosis is made primarily on clinicaldetection of psoriasis and inflammatory arthritis of the joints. In literature, many Authors have described the harmful effectsof PA on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), but no study has clearly indicated the TMJ as the first articulation to be involved in PA. This article presents a clinical case of PA that was diagnosed many years after a TMJ involvement, because no other signs and symptoms of disease apart from psoriasis were present. The missed early detection resulted in severe TMJ disorders. The TMJ can be the first affected joint in PA. For a right and early diagnosis of PA, an interdisciplinary approach between different dental and medical disciplines is very important.