Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can affect any synovial joint. Unlike the hand, ever so valued in the physical examination of patients with RA, the joints in the area of the jaw and neck may also be affected in this disease and have their involvement usually underdiagnosed. There are few studies evaluating the incidence of orofacial alteration in the examination as well as the correlation between bite force (BF) and clinical and functional parameters in these patients. The aim of our study was to chacacterize the orofacial alterations in RA patients, correlate the results of the orofacial evaluation with clinical and disease activity parameters, and correlate the bite force with the hand strenght.

Inclusion Criteria:

RA group:

• rheumatoid arthritis (American College of Rheumatology)

Control group:

• healthy

Exclusion Criteria:

• edentate be total, have been subjected to surgical procedure in the last six months in the region of the hands or oral maxillo facial

150 individuals, half of them, 75 were rheumatoid arthritis and the others 75 consisted the group control