Functional Disorders of the Masticatory System - Diagnosis and Treatment

In the face area, apart from tooth pain of known etiology (pulp inflammation, periapical tissue), patients may suffer from pain originating from the masticatory system muscles and / or the temporomandibular joint.

This pain may be accompanied by functional disorders such as: limitation of mouth opening, jaw deviation and / or clicks / crepitations in the joint. These are functional disorders of the masticatory system motor system.

According to scientific research, treatment of functional disorders should be reversible and conservative, preferably through advice, physiotherapy, psychotherapy or using a relaxation splint.

In some situations (primarily acute pain), pharmacological treatment can be used. Appropriate diagnosis of patient pain, performed by an experienced specialist, is very important.

• limitation of mouth opening
• jaw deviation
• clicks / crepitations in the joint

Teeth and Functional Disorders

Changes in occlusion may be a symptom of ongoing changes in the temporomandibular joint, but relationships between teeth deviating from the accepted norm are not the cause of functional disorders.