Prosthodontic management of temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain

AbstractIntroductionThe relationship between dental occlusion and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) remains a subject of disagreement. Many professionals erroneously base diagnosis and treatment strictly on the occlusal factor, despite the fact that current scientific evidence does not show such a relationship.ObjectiveTo evaluate the knowledge of dental surgeons (DSs) from João Pessoa (PB)-Brazil, regarding the relationship between occlusal factors and TMD.Materials and methodA sample of 100 DSs who do not have expertise in TMD and orofacial pain (CG Group) and seven DSs with this specialty (EG Group) completed a questionnaire that addresses issues concerning knowledge of TMD and its relationship with occlusal factors. The questionnaire also contained information used to characterize the sample, such as age, gender, and length of experience. The current literature's degree of consensus was established as the "gold standard" response for each statement and was compared with the responses of the specialists and non-specialists. Data were tabulated using the SPSS software package and analyzed descriptively (by percentage) and statistically using the chi-square and Fisher's exact tests (p < 0.05).ResultA wide divergence could be observed between the knowledge of DSs who do not specialize in TMD and orofacial pain and that of professionals who do.ConclusionThere was low agreement between specialists and non-specialists. The relationship between dental occlusion and TMD remains unclear for the vast majority of participating professionals, which may prove to be reflected in diagnostic behaviors and inappropriate occlusal treatment for the management of TMD.

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The teaching of temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain at undergraduate level in Brazilian dental schools

Journal of Applied Oral Science ◽

10.1590/1679-775720130235 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 518-524 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Wagner SIMM ◽

Antonio Sergio GUIMARAES

Keyword(s):

Temporomandibular Disorders ◽

Orofacial Pain ◽

Undergraduate Level ◽

Dental Schools

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The prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in patients with late whiplash syndrome who experience orofacial pain

The Journal of the American Dental Association ◽

10.14219/jada.archive.2013.0150 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 144 (5) ◽

pp. 486-490 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Ida Marini ◽

Sergio Paduano ◽

Maria Lavinia Bartolucci ◽

Francesco Bortolotti ◽

Giulio Alessandri Bonetti

Keyword(s):

Temporomandibular Disorders ◽

Orofacial Pain ◽

Whiplash Syndrome ◽

Late Whiplash Syndrome

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Orofacial pain: basic mechanisms and implication for successful management

Journal of Applied Oral Science ◽

10.1590/s1678-77572003000100002 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Paulo César Rodrigues Conti ◽

Richard A. Pertes ◽

Gary M. Heir ◽

Cibele Nasri ◽

Harold V. Cohen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neuropathic Pain ◽

Temporomandibular Disorders ◽

Facial Pain ◽

Orofacial Pain ◽

Dental Pain ◽

Medical Problem ◽

Basic Knowledge ◽

Successful Management ◽

Long Period ◽

The Status

Orofacial Pain is the field of dentistry devoted to the diagnosis and management of chronic, complex, facial pain and oromotor disorders. This specialty in dentistry has developed over a number of years out of the need for better understanding of a group of patients who somehow were not clearly suffering from dental pain disorders, but still did not seem to have a clearly defined medical problem. After a long period of treating patients based on the mechanicist aspect of the disease, our profession has realized the importance of basic knowledge and differencial diagnosis in order to proper manage these patients. This modification in the approach has caused severe changes in education as well as in clinical activities. Historically considered as a problem of occlusion, Orofacial Pain, including Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) has recently reached the status of "Specialty" in Brazil. Therefore, this paper aims to discuss the main differences between musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain and the importance of basic knowledge to perform successful management.

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