Painful temporomandibular dysfunctions: diagnosis and treatment
Painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD pain) are common among the general population. The most common sub diagnoses are myalgia (jaw-muscle pain) and arthralgia (temporomandibular joint pain). The aetiology of TMD pain has a multifactorial nature, and its diagnosis and possible treatment often require a multidisciplinary approach. The most recent insights in the diagnosis and treatment of TMD pain are based on the multidisciplinary guideline ‘Chronic Orofacial Pain’ that was developed by the Dutch Society of Headache Patients and was published in 2013. Dentists are required to follow the recommendations of this guideline. The authorisation of the guideline by the relevant academic and professional associations in the Netherlands implies that restraint is advised when adopting diagnostic procedures and treatment modalities that are not or are insufficiently based on solid evidence.