Profiling the clinical presentation of diagnostic characteristics of a sample of symptomatic TMD patients

Development of a new category system for the profile morphology of temporomandibular disorders patients based on cephalograms using cluster analysis

Objective

This study aims to develop a new category scheme for the profile morphology of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) based on lateral cephalometric morphology.

Methods

Five hundred and one adult patients (91 males and 410 females) with TMD were enrolled in this study. Cluster tendency analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis were performed using 36 lateral cephalometric measurements. Classification and regression tree (CART) algorithm was used to construct a binary decision tree based on the clustering results.

Results

Twelve principal components were discovered in the TMD patients and were responsible for 91.2% of the variability. Cluster tendency of cephalometric data from TMD patients were confirmed and three subgroups were revealed by cluster analysis: (a) cluster 1: skeletal class I malocclusion; (b) cluster 2: skeletal class I malocclusion with increased facial height; (c) cluster 3: skeletal class II malocclusion with clockwise rotation of the mandible. Besides, CART model was built and the eight key morphological indicators from the decision tree model were convenient for clinical application, with the prediction accuracy up to 85.4%.

Conclusion

Our study proposed a novel category system for the profile morphology of TMDs with three subgroups according to the cephalometric morphology, which may supplement the morphological understanding of TMD and benefit the management of the categorical treatment of TMD.

Acute and Chronic Temporomandibular Disorder Pain: A critical review of differentiating factors and predictors of acute to chronic pain transition

AIMS

The aims of this critical review were to: (i) assess the factors that differentiate acute from chronic temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain; (ii) assess the risk factors associated with the transition from acute to chronic TMD pain; and (iii) summarize and appraise the studies.

METHOD

The databases used were MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Eligible studies included articles comparing acute to chronic TMD pain, and cohort studies assessing the risk factors implicated in the transition from acute to chronic TMD pain.

RESULTS

Seven articles were selected: one case-control study, three cross-sectional studies, and three cohort studies. These studies found that psychological factors were more common in chronic than acute TMD pain patients; however, these factors did not increase the transition risk in the multivariable model. Myofascial and baseline pain intensity were associated with the transition from acute to chronic TMD pain at a 6-month follow-up. Due to methodological weaknesses in the available literature, more research is required to establish the risk factors implicated in the transition from acute to chronic TMD pain.

CONCLUSION

This review found some evidence that myofascial pain is associated with the transition risk from acute to chronic TMD pain at a 6-month follow-up and that pain intensity at baseline is associated with more intense TMD pain 6 months later. There is insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about the role of demographics and psychological disorders as independent risk factors.

Profiling of Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders: Experience of One Tertiary Care Center

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess typical and most prevalent characteristics of patients suffering from temporomandibular disorders (TMD) by a retrospective assessment of their medical records.

Material and Methods

Demographic data and data on the characteristics of TMD were collected from the existing medical documentation of 304 TMD patients (250 females and 54 males) who had been referred to the Department of Dentistry, Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb from October 2016 to October 2020 due to temporomandibular pain. For the purpose of analysis, three age groups were formed: i) "children and adolescents" (up to 19 years of age); ii) "middle age" (from 20 to 50 years of age); iii) "older age" (>50 year- olds). A two-step cluster analysis was performed with the aim of classifying TMD patients into homogenous groups.

Results

The mean age of patients whose data were included in the study was 33.8 ± 16.66, with a significantly higher age in the group of women (p<0.001). Most of the patients had chronic pain (67.4%), with the ratio in favor of chronic patients being significantly higher in women than in men (p=0.001). Data on parafunctional behavior were confirmed in 14.5% of patients. Data on the onset of symptoms during/just after orthodontic treatment were present in 14.5% of patients. Data on spontaneous pain, assessed with a visual analogue scale, were recorded in 87 patients, with a mean of 6.14 ± 1.79 and with the highest pain in the "older age" group. Physical therapy was the most common therapeutic modality (56.3%) followed by an occlusal splint (40.5%). The analysis revealed 5 different clusters in the TMD patient data set.

Conclusions

Our results are largely in line with current epidemiological knowledge on TMD. Women predominated in all age groups and most of the patients experienced chronic pain. Classifying patients into homogeneous groups using the clustering method could provide better identification of subgroups of conditions that mainly occur together in these patients, thus providing the basis for more specific management.

The Arabic Fonseca Anamnestic Index: Psychometric properties and use for screening temporomandibular disorders in prospective orthodontic patients

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to develop/evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arabic Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI-A) and estimate the prevalence of TMDs in prospective orthodontic patients.

METHODS

The FAI-A was derived by forward-backward translation/cross-cultural adaption of the English FAI. Psychometric assessment of the FAI-A was performed with 308 orthodontic patients. Reliability was established via internal consistency and test-retest techniques, whereas, validity was verified by construct and convergent validity.

RESULTS

Cronbach's alpha value for the FAI-A was 0.77, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.99. For construct validity, the distribution of eigenvalues indicated that three items (mouth opening difficulty, jaw movement difficulty, and jaw fatigue) accounted for 60.5% of the total variance observed. For convergent validity, the FAI-A items were significantly correlated to the global question.

CONCLUSION

The FAI-A showed good reliability/validity and may be useful for screening TMDs. About 17% of prospective orthodontic patients presented with moderate-to-severe TMD symptoms.

Effects of low-power laser auriculotherapy on the physical and emotional aspects in patients with temporomandibular disorders: A blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated the effects of low-power laser auriculotherapy (LA) on the physical and emotional symptoms of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), in comparison with occlusal splints (OS).

DESIGN

Randomized, blinded, prospective, non-inferiority clinical trial.

INTERVENTIONS

The patients received OS (control group) or LA (experimental group).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Following the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines, patients with TMD were evaluated by using axes I and II of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for RDC-TMD. Both intra- and intergroup quantitative variables were analyzed with ANOVA (p < 0.05), while qualitative variables were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis (intergroup evaluations; p < 0.05) or Mann-Whitney tests (intragroup analyses; p < 0.05).

RESULTS

OS improved five physical symptoms of TMD (pain in the right temporal muscle, right and left masseter muscles, left joint, and left intraoral region), while LA improved six (jaw functioning; pain in left masseter muscle, right and left joints, and right and left intraoral regions). Similarly, OS improved seven emotional symptoms (degree of depression, degree of non-specific physical symptoms, excluding pain, degree of non-specific physical symptoms including pain, average pain value in the past 6 months, presence of depression, intensity and characteristics of pain, non-specific physical symptoms including pain), while LA improved five (degree of non-specific physical symptoms including pain, presence of depression, intensity and characteristics of pain, non-specific physical symptoms including pain, non-specific physical symptoms excluding pain).

CONCLUSION

LA improved the physical and emotional symptoms of TMD, with results similar to OS.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

For the physical and emotional symptoms associated with TMD, LA showed similar outcomes as OS.

The effect of a short term conservative physiotherapy versus occlusive splinting on pain and range of motion in cases of myogenic temporomandibular joint dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial

[Purpose] This study compared the effects of a short-term conservative physiotherapy program versus those of occlusive splinting on pain and range of motion in cases of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction. [Participants and Methods] This study included 112 male and female participants with ages ranging from 15–27 years. Outcome measures were pain assessed by the visual analogue scale and Temporomandibular Joint Range of Motion measured with the Temporomandibular joint opening index. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Conservative physiotherapy was provided to one group 3 days weekly while the other group received standard occlusive splinting. Splinting was used daily for the total period of treatment. Any adjustments for splints were done by the treating dentist. Both groups were treated for a total period of 6 weeks. [Results] Between group statistical analysis revealed a significant reduction in pain intensity and Temporomandibular joint opening index in favor of the conservative physiotherapy group. [Conclusion] Over a treatment period of 6 consecutive weeks, conservative physiotherapy could be a better initial treatment than occlusive splint in relieving pain and improving range of motion in cases of myogenic temporomandibular dysfunction.

Oro-facial pain and temporomandibular disorders classification systems: A critical appraisal and future directions

It is a difficult undertaking to design a classification system for any disease entity, let alone for oro-facial pain (OFP) and more specifically for temporomandibular disorders (TMD). A further complication of this task is that both physical and psychosocial variables must be included. To augment this process, a two-step systematic review, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, of the classification systems published during the last 20 years for OFP and TMD was performed. The first search step identified 190 potential citations which ultimately resulted in only 17 articles being included for in-depth analysis and review. The second step resulted in only 5 articles being selected for inclusion in this review. Five additional articles and four classification guidelines/criteria were also included due to expansion of the search criteria. Thus, in total, 14 documents comprising articles and guidelines/criteria (8 proposals of classification systems for OFP; 6 for TMD) were selected for inclusion in the systematic review. For each, a discussion as to their advantages, strengths and limitations was provided. Suggestions regarding the future direction for improving the classification process with the use of ontological principles rather than taxonomy are discussed. Furthermore, the potential for expanding the scope of axes included in existing classification systems, to include genetic, epigenetic and neurobiological variables, is explored. It is therefore recommended that future classification system proposals be based on combined approaches aiming to provide archetypal treatment-oriented classifications.

Central Sensitization-Based Classification for Temporomandibular Disorders: A Pathogenetic Hypothesis

Dysregulation of Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and central pain pathways in temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is a growing evidence. Authors include some forms of TMD among central sensitization syndromes (CSS), a group of pathologies characterized by central morphofunctional alterations. Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) is useful for clinical diagnosis. Clinical examination and CSI cannot identify the central site(s) affected in these diseases. Ultralow frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ULFTENS) is extensively used in TMD and in dental clinical practice, because of its effects on descending pain modulation pathways. The Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC/TMD) are the most accurate tool for diagnosis and classification of TMD. However, it includes CSI to investigate central aspects of TMD. Preliminary data on sensory ULFTENS show it is a reliable tool for the study of central and autonomic pathways in TMD. An alternative classification based on the presence of Central Sensitization and on individual response to sensory ULFTENS is proposed. TMD may be classified into 4 groups: (a) TMD with Central Sensitization ULFTENS Responders; (b) TMD with Central Sensitization ULFTENS Nonresponders; (c) TMD without Central Sensitization ULFTENS Responders; (d) TMD without Central Sensitization ULFTENS Nonresponders. This pathogenic classification of TMD may help to differentiate therapy and aetiology.

Clinical effects of an avocado-soybean unsaponifiable extract on arthralgia and osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint: preliminary study

The aim of the present preliminary study was to investigate the effectiveness of an avocado-soybean unsaponifiable extract (ASU) in patients with arthralgia and osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out. Fourteen women diagnosed with arthralgia and osteoarthritis of the TMJ using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders were included in the statistical analysis. The women were allocated randomly to two groups: ASU group and placebo group. Pain was measured using a visual analogue scale and pressure algometer. Mandibular function was evaluated through measurement of mandibular movements. Quality of life was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). The medication (ASU capsules or placebo capsules) was used for 4 months and the total follow-up was 6 months. Those taking the ASU extract had a decrease in pain symptoms and an improvement in quality of life. Moreover, a significant reduction in the use of rescue medication was found in the ASU group compared to the placebo group. This preliminary study provides strong evidence of the effectiveness of an avocado-soybean unsaponifiable extract in patients with degenerative joint diseases and arthralgia in the TMJ. Further studies with larger samples should be performed.

Temporomandibular Joint Hypermobility Manifestation Based on Clinical Observations

BACKGROUND

Joint range of motion might affected by some factors like laxity and increase joint mobility. Generalized joint hypermobility and temporomandibular joint hypermobility (TMJH) are reported as risk factors for temporomandibular disorders. The aim of this study was to survey the etiological factors of TMJH and its relations to habitual status.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 69 patients with TMJH were involved. After profiling personal information and medical history, the patients were divided into three groups based on their maximum mouth opening (MMO) as follow: (Light) MMO of 50-55 mm, (moderate): MMO between 55 and 65 mm, (severe) MMO >65 mm. For subjective observations, patients were asked to fill the prepared questionnaire. The objective evaluations conducted by a specialist. Finally, all the data subjected Chi-Square test by using SPSS software version 22 at a significant level of 0.05.

RESULTS

TMJH was more common in women (74.2%). The light group had significant differences with other groups in the discomfort of TMJ and TMJ sound (P < 0.05). Furthermore, sever group manifested highest percentage of masticatory pains, significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that pain in TMJ would have a correlation with MMO.

Correlation between TMD and cervical spine pain and mobility: is the whole body balance TMJ related?

Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) is considered to be associated with imbalance of the whole body. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of TMD therapy on cervical spine range of movement (ROM) and reduction of spinal pain. The study group consisted of 60 patients with TMD, cervical spine pain, and limited cervical spine range of movements. Subjects were interviewed by a questionnaire about symptoms of TMD and neck pain and had also masticatory motor system physically examined (according to RDC-TMD) and analysed by JMA ultrasound device. The cervical spine motion was analysed using an MCS device. Subjects were randomly admitted to two groups, treated and control. Patients from the treated group were treated with an occlusal splint. Patients from control group were ordered to self-control parafunctional habits. Subsequent examinations were planned in both groups 3 weeks and 3 months after treatment was introduced. The results of tests performed 3 months after the beginning of occlusal splint therapy showed a significant improvement in TMJ function (P > 0.05), cervical spine ROM, and a reduction of spinal pain. The conclusion is that there is a significant association between TMD treatment and reduction of cervical spine pain, as far as improvement of cervical spine mobility.

Identifying potential predictors of pain-related disability in Turkish patients with chronic temporomandibular disorder pain

Background

The aims of this study were to examine whether patients’ psychosocial profiles influence the location of pain, and to identify the clinical and psychosocial predictors of high levels of pain-related disability in temporomandibular disorders (TMD) patients with chronic pain at least 6 months in duration.

Methods

The Research Diagnostic Criteria of TMD (RDC/TMD) data for Axis I and II were obtained for 104 consecutive patients seeking treatment.

Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Mann–Whitney U-test, chi-square test, One-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test, and binary multiple logistic regression tests. Patients were classified into two groups according to Graded Chronic Pain Scale scores: Grade III and IV were scored for patients with high levels of pain-related disability, whereas Grade I and II were scored for patients with low disability.

Results

Muscle and joint pain were found in 64.9% and 31.8% of the patients, respectively, and 27.3% of the patients suffered from both muscle and joint pain.

Psychosocial disability was found in 26% of patients. There were no statistically significant differences among the diagnostic subgroups with regards to the demographic, behavioral, psychological, and psychosocial characteristics. Patients with high levels of pain-related disability had significantly higher depression, somatization, pain intensity and jaw disability scores than those with low levels of pain-related disability.

Patients with high levels of pain-related disability were more likely to have higher pain intensity, to report higher somatization symptoms and functional impairment, and were less likely to have joint pain than those with low levels of pain related disability.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Turkish version RDC/TMD, based on a dual axis system, may be used to screen chronic TMD patients at high-risk for pain-related disability who need comprehensive care treatment program.