Validity of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Axis I in clinical and research settings.

Item does not contain fulltextThe lack of standardized diagnostic criteria for defining clinical subtypes of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) was the main motive to create the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD), which were provided to allow standardization and replication of research into the most common forms of muscle- and joint-related TMD. The RDC/TMD offered improvement compared to the older literature: the use of one system classifying TMD subgroups and the introduction of a dual-axis classification. The aim of this Focus Article is to appraise the RDC/TMD Axis I (physical findings). Since the original publication in 1992, no modification of the RDC/TMD has taken place, although research has yielded important new findings. The article outlines several concerns, including diagnostic issues in Axis I, classification criteria, feasibility of palpation sites, the myofascial diagnostic algorithm, the lack of joint tests (compression, traction), and missing subgroups. Using a gold standard examiner may improve calibration and offer better reliability; it does not improve any of the diagnostic validity issues. It is also noted that in the 2004 mission statement of the International Consortium For RDC/TMD-Based Research, the RDC/TMD are also advocated for clinical settings. Clinicians may eagerly embrace the RDC/TMD, believing that the clinical use of the RDC/TMD as a diagnostic procedure is already supported by evidence, but its application is not indicated in clinical settings. The article concludes that given the research developments, there is a need to update the RDC/TMD Axis I in the clinical research setting

Authors' Response to Critical Commentaries: Reliability and Validity of the DC/TMD Axis I

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[Severe odontalgic pain preceding migraine attacks].

Item does not contain fulltextA 30-year-old woman appeared at the gnathology department of a centre for special dentistry complaining of migraine attacks which were preceded each time by severe odontalgic pain. Furthermore, she suffered from an autoimmune disease as well as from tension headaches. The oral health care provider in charge suspected that the episodes of odontalgic pain, which lasted for several hours or even several days, were caused by bruxism. Treatment of the bruxism resulted in reduced pain as well as reduced severity of the migraine attacks.1 oktober 201

[Severe odontalgic pain preceding migraine attacks].

A 30-year-old woman appeared at the gnathology department of a centre for special dentistry complaining of migraine attacks which were preceded each time by severe odontalgic pain. Furthermore, she suffered from an autoimmune disease as well as from tension headaches. The oral health care provider in charge suspected that the episodes of odontalgic pain, which lasted for several hours or even several days, were caused by bruxism. Treatment of the bruxism resulted in reduced pain as well as reduced severity of the migraine attacks

Recommendations by the EACD for examination, diagnosis, and management of patients with temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain by the general dental practitioner.

Item does not contain fulltextThe Council of the European Academy of Craniomandibular Disorders charged the Educational Committee with the task of establishing Guidelines and Recommendations for the examination, diagnosis, and management of patients with temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain by the general dental practitioner. It was not their purpose to present a thorough and critical review of the vast amount of literature available but to summarize the at-present generally accepted clinical approach. These recommendations are based as much as possible on scientific evidence and on sound clinical judgment in cases where only partial evidence or contradictory data were found

Reliability and Validity of the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Axis I in Clinical and Research Settings: A Critical Appraisal

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Handicapped from birth ? Why women golfers are traditionally a fairway behind

A 48-year old woman in good general health was referred to the orofacial pain clinic in a centre for special dentistry with a toothache in the premolar region of the left maxillary quadrant. The complaints had existed for 15 years and various dental treatments, including endodontic treatments, apical surgery, extraction and splint therapy, had not helped to alleviate the complaints. As a result of the fact that anti-epileptic drugs were able to reduce the pain it was concluded that this 'toothache' satisfied the criteria of an atypical odontalgia: 'toothache' with a neuropathic background. Publisher: Abstract available from the publisher. du

Evaluation of the short-term effectiveness of education versus an occlusal splint for the treatment of myofascial pain of the jaw muscles

Item does not contain fulltextBACKGROUND: The authors conducted a clinical trial to compare the effectiveness of an education program with that of an occlusal splint in treating myofascial pain of the jaw muscles across a short period. METHOD: The authors assigned 44 patients randomly to two treatment groups; 41 patients completed the study. The first group (four male, 19 female; mean [standard deviation {SD}] age, 31.4 [14.0] years) received information regarding the nature of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and self-care measures, whereas the second group (five male, 13 female; mean [SD] age, 31.1 [8.8] years) received an occlusal splint. One of the authors evaluated each patient every three weeks during a three-month treatment period. Treatment outcomes included pain-free maximal mouth opening, spontaneous muscle pain, pain during chewing and headache. RESULTS: After three months, changes in spontaneous muscle pain differed significantly between the education and occlusal splint groups (P = .034; effect size = 0.33). Changes in pain-free maximal mouth opening did not differ significantly between groups (P = .528; effect size = 0.20). Changes of headache and pain on chewing did not differ significantly between groups (P >/= .550, effect size </= 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: During a short period, education was slightly more effective than an occlusal splint delivered without education in reducing spontaneous muscle pain in patients with TMD. Pain-free mouth opening, headache and pain during chewing were not significantly different between the two treatments