Clinical examination of patients with orofacial pain

Abstract A thorough clinical examination of patients with orofacial pain is of paramount importance. The examination is time-consuming, but is usually fully rewarding in that it may prevent unnecessary or incorrect and often irreversible treatment, and clarify to the clinician and hopefully to the patient the nature of the patient's problem. Only then may proper treatment be rendered. In this context it should be noted that a skillfully performed examination in these patients in itself provides valuable and effective treatment, especially when muscular dysfunction is the primary cause of the pain.