Prevalence of temporomandibular disorder pain,jaw noises and oral behaviours in an adult Italian population sample

To evaluate the prevalence of temporomandibular disorder pain (TMD‐pain), temporomandibular joint (TMJ) noises, oral behaviours in an Italian adult population sample, their possible association with gender, oral behaviours, self‐reported facial trauma and orthodontic treatment. Subjects older than 18 years were recruited from general population in public spaces during their daily life. A specific questionnaire was developed to collect data on TMD‐pain, TMJ noises, oral behaviours, orthodontic treatment and facial trauma. A total of 4299 subjects were included in the study. The most common symptom in the sample was TMJ clicking (30.7%), followed by TMD‐pain (16.3%) and TMJ crepitus (10.3%). Oral behaviours were reported in 29% of the sample; 43.6% of the sample reported a previous or ongoing orthodontic treatment. TMD‐pain and TMJ clicking were significantly associated to gender, oral behaviours and a positive history of previous facial trauma. Crepitus was significantly associated to oral behaviours, facial trauma and higher age. Ongoing orthodontic treatment was significantly associated to TMD‐pain and TMJ sounds. In a general Italian adult population sample, TMD‐pain is associated to female gender and is less prevalent than TMJ clicking. TMDs are associated to trauma and oral behaviours.     

Temporomandibular joint multidisciplinary team clinic

Patients with dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) commonly present to oral and maxillofacial departments and are increasingly being managed by a subspecialist group of surgeons. We review the outcomes of patients attending a specialist TMJ multidisciplinary team (MDT) clinic. All patients are simultaneously reviewed by a consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon, consultant in oral medicine, specialist physiotherapist, and maxillofacial prosthetist, and they can also see a consultant liaison psychiatrist. They are referred from primary, secondary, and tertiary care when medical and surgical treatment in the routine TMJ clinic has failed, and are triaged by the attending maxillofacial surgeon. On discharge they are returned to the care of the referring practitioner. We review the outcomes of patients attending this clinic over a 2-year period and show improvements in pain scores and maximal incisal opening, as well as quality of life outcome measures. All units in the UK with an interest in the management of diseases of the TMJ should consider establishing this type of clinic and should use available resources and expertise to maximise outcomes.     

Incidence of temporomandibular joint disorders in patients seen at a hospital emergency room

A retrospective survey of a hospital emergency room population seen at an oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic during a 6-month period found 62 patients (2.7% of the total population) with temporomandibular joint disorders. The diagnoses were myofascial pain-dysfunction/temporomandibular joint dysfunction (MPD/TMJ) syndrome (70.9% of the cases) and dislocation (luxation) (22.5% of the cases).
The chief complaint was well defined in relation to the diagnoses: facial pain in the MPD/TMJ syndrome cases, and displacement of the mandible in the dislocation cases.     

颞下颌关节区疼痛患者全身伴随症状的初步研究

目的调查与颞下颌关节(TMJ)区疼痛伴随出现的全身症状的发生情况。方法选取TMJ区疼痛患者51例及TMJ区无疼痛的对照者31人,调查其TMJ症状及全身伴随症状。治疗半年后对TMJ区疼痛患者进行复查。应用一元线性回归和卡方检验对TMJ区疼痛与全身症状的相关性及伴随性进行统计学分析。结果与TMJ疼痛有相关性的症状包括头痛、背痛、手麻抖、肩颈痛、失眠、目眩、听力下降、眼痛和易疲劳(P<0.05)。患者组部分症状(头痛、肩颈痛、眼痛、耳鸣、目眩、眼下抽搐、易疲劳、手脚发凉、易烦躁、注意力不集中和消化不良)发生的比例显著高于对照组(P<0.01)。半年后与TMJ区疼痛伴随改善的症状有头痛、肩颈痛和易疲劳(P<0.05)。结论头部、肩颈等口腔颌面邻近器官的症状是TMJ区疼痛的主要伴随症状,与TMJ症状的改善有伴随关系。     

Contribution of Endodontic Pathology to Persistent Orofacial Pain: A Case Report

Identifying the etiology and correct diagnoses for long-standing orofacial pain can be very challenging, especially in patients who have both odontogenic and nonodontogenic pain. This case report describes the successful management of a complex case of chronic orofacial pain in a patient with nonodontogenic chronic pain conditions and a maxillary molar tooth with persistent periapical pathology after endodontic treatment. The debilitating orofacial pain began after initial nonsurgical root canal treatment of the maxillary molar 3 years before presenting to our clinic. The initial clinical and radiographic assessment by our multidisciplinary team found that there were potentially both peripheral endodontic pathology and central pain mechanisms contributing to the long-standing pain. The diagnosis was shared with the patient's neurologist, who prescribed gabapentin, a centrally acting analgesic, and partial pain reduction was achieved. The odontogenic component of the orofacial pain was then addressed, by treating the persistent periapical infection and buccal bone fenestration of the roots of the maxillary molar. Treatments included both nonsurgical retreatment and surgical endodontic therapy (including root resection, root-end preparation, and retrofilling), and each significantly improved the patient's ongoing orofacial pain. After the successful endodontic treatments, the patient reported minimal pain and normal oral function. The case report highlights the importance of systematically treating endodontic pathology in a patient with long-standing orofacial pain, with both odontogenic and nonodontogenic components.     

Dilemma in treatment of patients suffering from orofacial dysaesthesia

A retrospective study of 64 patients with orofacial dysaesthesia is presented. Special emphasis is placed on the patients' symptoms and on the manipulative treatments they received before they were referred for psychiatric consultation. The patients had suffered from chronic orofacial pain or feelings of discomfort for periods ranging from 6 months up to 25 years. The patients had visited several specialists and had received numerous manipulative or medical treatments, the most common of which were repeated medication (drug treatment), TMJ dysfunction treatment, endodontic or exodontic treatment, and surgical explorations. However, the success of all these clinical efforts was very limited because of the apparent psychosomatic origin of the complaints. This study clearly shows that psychiatric consultations are still too seldom made in patients with chronic orofacial dysaesthesia, that many patients have a mental disorder, and that most chronic psychosomatic pain disorders are treated as acute specific pain.     

Role of alloplastic reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint in the juvenile idiopathic arthritis population

We present outcomes following total joint replacement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in adolescent and young adult patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and discuss a multidisciplinary treatment model. A retrospective review was performed of patients presenting to the University of North Carolina Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Service (Chapel Hill, NC) from 2016- 2018 who underwent unilateral or bilateral total replacement of the TMJ for a diagnosis of end-stage joint disease secondary to JIA. Inclusion criteria included diagnosis by a rheumatologist, presentation to our department in adolescence (under 18 years of age), surgical intervention in adolescence or young adulthood (under 25 years of age), and documentation of preoperative and postoperative pain, maximum incisal opening (MIO), and quality of life measures. A database was created and data were then analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Five patients met the inclusion criteria. All achieved MIO of more than 35 mm with a mean improvement of 24 mm, and were able to tolerate a regular diet. All preoperative pain had essentially been eliminated. All patients reported a considerable improvement in quality of life. To our knowledge, this is the first report to document a series of paediatric and young adult patients with JIA who required total replacement of the joint for end-stage joint disease. To our knowledge, it is also the first to describe the use of a collaborative clinic of oral and maxillofacial surgeons, neuroradiologists, dental radiologists, orofacial pain specialists, paediatric rheumatologists, and paediatric nurse practitioners, to care for these patients.     

Prevalence of persistent pain after endodontic treatment and factors affecting its occurrence in cases with complete radiographic healing

AIMS: To (i) determine the prevalence of persistent dento-alveolar pain following nonsurgical and/or surgical endodontic treatment conducted in a teaching dental hospital and (ii) identify the risk factors associated with persistent pain after apparently successful root canal treatment. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 175 patients/teeth were reviewed 12-59 months following treatment. The patients were examined clinically and radiographically and a detailed pain history obtained. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between potential risk factors and persistent pain after successful endodontic treatment. RESULTS: The prevalence of persistent pain after successful root canal treatment was 12% (21/175). Treatment success was determined by the absence of clinical and radiographic signs of dental disease. The factors that were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with persistent pain following endodontic treatment were: 'duration of preoperative pain' [odds ratio (OR) = 8.6], 'preoperative pain from the tooth' (OR = 7.8), 'preoperative tenderness to percussion' (OR = 7.8), 'previous chronic pain problems' (OR = 4.5), 'gender' (OR = 4.5) and 'history of painful treatment in the orofacial region' (OR = 3.8). 'Type of treatment received (surgical or nonsurgical treatment)' showed borderline significance at the 10% level. CONCLUSIONS: The presence and duration of preoperative pain from the tooth site, lasting at least 3 months, a positive history of previous chronic pain experience or painful treatment in the orofacial region, and female gender were important risk factors associated with persistent pain after successful endodontic treatment.     

Concomitant temporomandibular joint and orthognathic surgery: a preliminary report.

PURPOSE: In the present study, we evaluated the outcome of concomitant temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and orthognathic surgery in patients with TMJ articular disc dislocation and coexisting dentofacial deformities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 70 patients treated with TMJ articular disc-repositioning surgery and concomitant orthognathic surgery (double jaw or only mandibular surgery) were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided into the following 3 groups: group 1 patients had mandibular advancement, group 2 patients had mandibular setback, and group 3 patients had a mandible that remained in the original position. Lateral cephalometric radiographs and lateral cephalometric tomograms were assessed at the following intervals: before surgery (T1), immediately after surgery (T2), 6 to 12 months after surgery (T3), and at the longest follow-up (T4). Lateral cephalometric tracings were superimposed to calculate surgical change (T2 - T1), short-term stability (T3 - T2), and long-term stability (T4 - T3) of the orthognathic surgery procedures. Maximum interincisal opening (MIO) and subjective TMJ pain (visual analog scales) were comparatively evaluated at T1 and T4. RESULTS: Subjective TMJ pain levels and MIO improved in all 3 groups after surgery. Before surgery, 56 of 70 patients (80%) had pain and 14 of 70 patients (20%) had no pain. At the longest follow-up, 42 of 70 patients (60%) reported complete relief of TMJ pain. Only 5 of 70 patients (7%) had severe pain after surgery compared with 37 of 70 patients (53%) before surgery. At the longest follow-up, 6 of 70 patients (9%) showed less than 35 mm MIO, residual severe pain, or both. One patient had significant condylar resorption after surgery. The orthognathic procedures were found to be stable in the long term. Concomitant TMJ and orthognathic surgery had an overall success rate of 91.4% based on a greater than 35 mm MIO and a decrease in pain. CONCLUSIONS: When indicated, TMJ and orthognathic surgery can be concomitantly performed with predictable results and a good success rate. Strong consideration should be given to early surgical intervention because the success rate decreases significantly with pre-existing TMJ dysfunction of greater than 48 months' duration.     

Orofacial pain related to traumatic neuroma in a patient with multiple TMJ operations

The diagnosis of orofacial pain associated with temporomandibular disorders after repeated temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgeries can be quite difficult. This case report describes a 52-year-old woman who had previously undergone five TMJ surgeries and developed divergent pain caused by a trigger point in the left preauricular area. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging could not be used to identify a lesion because of metallic artifacts from a TMJ prosthesis. However, sonography indicated the location of the suspected lesion. Moreover, a neurological examination performed with local anesthesia was clinically effective in ruling out other diagnoses of orofacial pain. Ultimately, a histopathological examination of a biopsy specimen from the painful site confirmed the lesion to be a traumatic neuroma. This case report suggests the value of including traumatic neuroma in the differential diagnosis of patients with a history of previous TMJ surgery who present with orofacial pain in the region of the TMJ.     

Orofacial pain, jaw function, and temporomandibular disorders in women with a history of juvenile chronic arthritis or persistent juvenile chronic arthritis

OBJECTIVES: We sought to study the long-term outcome of juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). STUDY DESIGN: Temporomandibular disorders, including TMJ involvement, were assessed in 42 women with pauciarticular or polyarticular JCA--on average 25.8 years from disease onset--and compared with those found in matched control subjects. Disease-related parameters associated with temporomandibular disorders were identified. RESULTS: The TMJ was involved in 66.7% of the patients, most severely in extended pauciarticular JCA. Temporomandibular disorders were more frequent in the patients than in the control subjects, especially in those with persistent disease. The TMJ involvement was positively correlated with disease duration and negatively correlated with jaw opening and occlusal support. Duration of active JCA and history of functional pain were identified as predictors of present TMJ involvement. CONCLUSION: In a long-term follow-up, TMJ involvement proved frequent in the studied patients and was associated with long disease duration and previous pain on jaw opening. The findings suggest that patients with JCA should undergo orofacial evaluation on a regular basis.     

Management of temporomandibular joint arthritis in children and adolescents: An introduction for orthodontists

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common inflammatory rheumatic disease of childhood. JIA can affect any joint and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the joints most frequently involved. TMJ arthritis impacts mandibular growth and development and can result in skeletal deformity (convex profile and facial asymmetry), and malocclusion. Furthermore, when TMJs are affected, patients may present with pain at joint and masticatory muscles and dysfunction with crepitus and limited jaw movement. This review aims to describe the role of orthodontists in the management of patients with JIA and TMJ involvement. This article is an overview of evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with JIA and TMJ involvement. Screening for the orofacial manifestation of JIA is important for orthodontists to identify TMJ involvement and related dentofacial deformity. The treatment protocol of JIA with TMJ involvement requires an interdisciplinary collaboration including orthopaedic/orthodontic treatment and surgical interventions for the management of growth disturbances. Orthodontists are also involved in the management of orofacial signs and symptoms; behavioural therapy, physiotherapy and occlusal splints are the suggested treatments. Patients with TMJ arthritis require specific expertise from an interdisciplinary team with members knowledgeable in JIA care. Since disorders of mandibular growth often appear during childhood, the orthodontist could be the first clinician to see the patient and can play a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of JIA patients with TMJ involvement.     

Understanding and managing patients with chronic pain

The specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery has had at its core the foundations of anesthesia and pain and anxiety control. This article attempts to refamiliarize the reader with clinical pearls helpful in the management of patients with chronic pain conditions. The authors also hope to highlight the interplay of chronic pain and psychology as it relates to the oral and maxillofacial surgery patient. To that end, the article outlines and reviews the neurophysiology of pain, the definitions of pain, conditions encountered by the oral and maxillofacial surgeon that produce chronic pain, the psychological impact and comorbidities associated with patients experiencing chronic pain conditions, and concepts of multimodal treatment for patients experiencing chronic pain conditions.     

Outcomes of open temporomandibular joint surgery following failure to improve after arthroscopy: is there an algorithm for success?

We reviewed the results of one surgeon's experience of open surgical management of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in patients who fail to respond to arthroscopy and aimed to identify groups of patients that may or may not benefit from the intervention. Over a 7-year period (2005–2012) we retrospectively collected data from the medical notes of patients who underwent discectomy, disc plication, eminectomy, eminoplasty, and adhesiolysis, according to the clinical findings for joint pain, restriction, and locking. A total of 22 patients (71%) reported improvement in pain score and 19 (61%) reported an improvement in mouth opening 12 months postoperatively. Overall, 12 patients (39%) ultimately needed TMJ replacement. This group included 5/6 patients in Wilkes’ stage IV and 6/15 in stage V, 5/7 patients with a preoperative pain score of 90–100, and half of those with preoperative mouth opening of 20–29 mm (7/14). Open surgical management of the TMJ can benefit patients despite the previous failure of arthroscopy to manage pain, restriction, and locking. Arthroscopy seems to reduce the percentage of patients that need open TMJ surgery, but also the success of subsequent operations compared with previous studies. TMJ replacement is increasingly being done successfully to treat end-stage disease. These results may be used when obtaining a patient's consent for open TMJ surgery, particularly if they are in the groups considered to have a high risk of subsequently requiring a replacement joint.     

The consequences of orofacial pain symptoms: a population-based study in Hong Kong

Objectives: To investigate the impacts associated with orofacial pain symptoms among adult Chinese people in Hong Kong. Associations between impacts, pain characteristics and professional treatment seeking behaviour were explored. Methods: A cross‐sectional, population‐based study was conducted using a telephone survey method. A sample of Cantonese‐speaking Chinese people aged 18 years and over living in Hong Kong was interviewed. The questionnaire incorporated questions on recent orofacial pain experience and characteristics. Respondents with orofacial pain symptoms were asked about the consequences of the pain on various aspects of daily life and whether they had sought treatment for the pain. Results: Of the 1222 survey respondents, 41.6% reported some form of orofacial pain. 79.3% of those who reported orofacial pain and about one‐third of the total sample had experienced at least one impact. The most common impact was worried about oral and dental health (59.8%) followed by avoided certain food (50.4%). Respondents with toothache were found to be more likely to have experienced all the impacts investigated (OR range: 2.048–3.309). People who had stayed in bed more than usual (OR = 2.342), experienced sleep disturbance (OR = 2.149), and worried about their oral and dental health (OR = 2.851) were more likely to seek professional treatment. Conclusions: The adverse impact of orofacial pain on the well‐being of the adult population of Hong Kong was substantial. Despite this, treatment seeking was low with a high level of untreated orofacial pain symptoms.     

Groningen temporomandibular total joint prosthesis: An 8-year longitudinal follow-up on function and pain

Total temporomandibular joint replacement is a surgical procedure for patients with severe temporomandibular joint afflictions affecting quality of life, which have not responded beneficially to previous conventional surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term outcome of the Groningen temporomandibular joint (TMJ) prosthesis in patients with chronic pain and mutilated temporomandibular joints following multiple surgical procedures, with respect to prosthesis failure, the patient's postoperative level of satisfaction and longitudinal changes in maximum mouth opening, functional mandibular impairment and pain. Eight female patients were studied in whom Groningen TMJ prostheses were inserted, two unilaterally and six bilaterally.The Groningen TMJ prosthesis was mechanically successful during 8 years of follow-up in seven out of eight patients with a disc dislocation being seen in one patient (7%). Patients were satisfied, despite the limited improvement of the maximum mouth opening, and pain scores.Although the decline of MFIQ scores during 8 years of follow-up was significant compared to baseline (p = 0.027), the effects of the prosthesis on maximum mouth opening, function and pain were limited. This may be due to persistent chronic pain and the adverse effects of multiple previous surgical procedures.     

伴全身多系统创伤颌面伤患者的综合救治

目的:研究伴发身体其他部位创伤的颌面伤患者综合救治中专科确定性手术时机和适应证。方法:回顾性统计4所大型综合医院口腔科病房近20年收治的4 869例口腔颌面部创伤患者的临床资料,分析伴发身体其他部位创伤状况和专科手术时机。结果:4 869例患者中,面骨骨折3 364例,软组织伤1 505例。伴发其他部位创伤1 524例(占31.3%),其中颅脑伤570例(37.4%),肢体伤545例(35.8%),胸部伤170例(11.2%),眼创伤151例(9.9%),脊柱伤54例(3.3%),腹部伤34例(2.2%)。74%的颅脑伴发伤患者伤后4周内、76.2%的眼伴发伤患者伤后7d内进行了面骨骨折手术治疗。而肢体、脊柱、胸腹部伴发伤患者,面骨骨折手术均有不同程度延误。结论:伴发多系统创伤的颌面伤患者的救治需要多学科间的合作,在患者呼吸系统、循环系统等全身状况稳定的情况下,大部分颌面多发伤患者可以同期或早期进行专科处理。     

Changes in temporomandibular joint dysfunction after orthognathic surgery.

PURPOSE: We sought to evaluate the effects of orthognathic surgery on temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction in patients with known presurgical TMJ internal derangement who underwent double-jaw surgery for the treatment of dentofacial deformities. Patients and Methods: Treatment records of 25 patients with magnetic resonance imaging and clinical verification of preoperative TMJ articular disc displacement who underwent double-jaw surgery only were retrospectively evaluated, with an average follow-up of 2.2 years. Signs and symptoms of TMJ dysfunction, including pain, range of mandibular motion, and presence/absence of TMJ sounds, were subjectively (visual analog scales) and objectively evaluated at presurgery (T1), immediately postsurgery (T2), and at longest follow-up (T3). Surgical change (T2-T1) and long-term stability of results (T3-T2) were calculated using the superimposition of lateral cephalometric and tomographic tracings. RESULTS: Presurgery, 16% of the patients had only TMJ pain, 64% had only TMJ sounds, and 20% had both TMJ pain and sounds. Postsurgery, 24% of the patients had only TMJ pain, 16% had only TMJ sounds, and 60% has both TMJ pain and sounds. Thus, presurgery 36% of the patients had TMJ pain, and postsurgery, 84% had pain. Average visual analog scale pain scores were significantly higher postsurgery and none of the patients with presurgery TMJ pain had relief of pain postsurgery. In addition, 6 patients (24%) developed condylar resorption postsurgically, resulting in the development of Class II open bite malocclusion. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with preexisting TMJ dysfunction undergoing orthognathic surgery, particularly mandibular advancement, are likely to have significant worsening of the TMJ dysfunction postsurgery. TMJ dysfunction must be closely evaluated, treated if necessary, and monitored in the orthognathic surgery patient.     

Hyoid bone syndrome masquerading as temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Hyoid bone syndrome is a type of cervicofacial pain that is caused by degeneration of the greater cornu of the hyoid at the attachment of the stylohyoid ligament. We report four patients who presented with deep-seated, dull, aching, temporomandibular (TMJ) pain that radiated from the greater cornu of the hyoid bone and did not respond to conservative management. Diagnostic tests included a local anaesthetic block and digital palpation of the greater cornu of the hyoid bone. All four patients responded well to methylprednisolone 40 mg/ml at the greater cornu of the hyoid bone, which resulted in complete resolution of their symptoms. No patients developed postoperative complications. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons involved in the treatment of orofacial pain should consider this less documented condition in their differential diagnosis when treating temporomandibular disorders.     

The specialist management of non-temporomandibular orofacial pain: maxillofacial surgery’s known unknown?

The management of orofacial pain is considered to be within the remit of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS). In this study we aimed to provide an overview of the healthcare “journey” of a group of patients referred to a specialist unit with “complex” non-temporomandibular orofacial pain. We retrospectively reviewed all those who were referred over a six-month period and followed for up to three years. A total of 133 were included, 69% were female, and the mean (SD) duration of symptoms before assessment was 66.4 (88.8) months. Patients were treated for seven different conditions by a mean (SD) of 2.6 (1.2) specialties, and 3.2 (2.5) medications had been tried before assessment at the unit. A mean (SD) of 3.9 (3.3) appointments were attended over the three years, and 80% of patients were prescribed at least one medication. Patients were under the care of the unit for a mean (SD) of 11.9 (14.0) months, and 38% were still being seen at three years. Those with trigeminal neuralgia were most likely to remain in care at three years (p = <0.001), and those with burning mouth syndrome (p = <0.001) or persistent idiopathic facial pain (p = 0.005) were most likely to be discharged. In the current NHS climate, the lack of resources to treat facial pain and the focus on a mix of skills, mean that OMF surgeons are likely to have an increasing role in the treatment of these patients. This paper provides an important insight into these conditions.