Myogenous temporomandibular pain: treat with care!
For the treatment of myogenous temporomandibular pain, a clinician can choose from among a wide variety of possibilities. Unfortunately, a paper summarizing the effectiveness of all these forms of treatment does not yet exist. The aim of this paper is to provide specific advice for dentists concerning the treatment of patients with myogenous temporomandibular pain by means of a systematic review of the relevant literature. The results of this review of the literature suggest that all forms of treatment selected, including treatment with placeboes, are equally effective in reducing myogenous temporomandibular pain. In order to avoid liability issues, it is advisable to choose for a restrained, reversible form of treatment. The dentist and the patient must, in this respect, be aware that the pain can continue after treatment (albeit at a reduced level) or can return after a period of time.