Craniomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain

This text has been written as a clinical manual for dental specialists and generalists. Practical aspects of clinical diagnosis and management of orofacial pain and craniomandibular disorders (CMDs) are covered. The author favours the term CMDs, rather than the commonly used terms temporomandibular (TM) joint dysfunction or myofascial pain dysfunction. The latter terms specify particular aspects of pain and dysfunction which often occur together, but more importantly, these terms do not acknowledge the interrelationships between the cranium, jaw and cervical spine. These interrelationships are important in function and dysfunction and should be acknowledged in management strategies. Chapter 1 reviews pain and emphasizes the complex psychophysiological basis for it. Chapter 2 reviews diagnosis and management of pain from teeth, jaw muscles and TM joints. Chapter 3 reviews features of the orofacial pain conditions arising from nerves, vessels and a variety of miscellaneous conditions, to emphasize the broad base of knowledge required for differential diagnosis. Chapters 4 and 5 review two important approaches in conservative management for dental practitioners.
An appendix is added as a reference source for the many varied terms used to describe particular conditions.