Temporomandibular disorders-review of evidence-based management and a proposed multidisciplinary care pathway

Krupali Patel; Karen A Eley; Luke Cascarini; Steve Watt-Smith; Maeve Larkin; Tim Lloyd; Clare Maddocks; Elenor McLaren; Rachel Stovell; Roddy McMillan

doi:10.1016/j.oooo.2023.02.001

Temporomandibular disorders-review of evidence-based management and a proposed multidisciplinary care pathway

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2023 Jul;136(1):54-69. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2023.02.001. Epub 2023 Feb 12.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Facial Pain, Royal National ENT & Eastman Dental Hospitals, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; University College London Eastman Dental Institute, London, UK.
² Department of Radiology, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK.
³ Harley Street Specialist Hospital, London, UK.
⁴ University College London Eastman Dental Institute, London, UK.
⁵ Department of Facial Pain, Royal National ENT & Eastman Dental Hospitals, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
⁶ Department of Facial Pain, Royal National ENT & Eastman Dental Hospitals, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; University College London Eastman Dental Institute, London, UK. Electronic address: Roddymcmillan@nhs.net.

PMID: 36990844
DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2023.02.001

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a prevalent but complex group of conditions that cause orofacial pain. Temporomandibular disorders are recognized as one of the most common chronic pain conditions, alongside back pain and headache disorders. Given the competing theories surrounding what causes TMDs and limited high-equality evidence on optimally treating TMDs, clinicians often encounter challenges in developing an effective management plan for patients. Furthermore, patients will often seek advice from multiple health care providers from varying specialties, seeking curative management, often resulting in inappropriate treatments and no improvement in pain symptoms. Throughout this review, we explore the existing evidence base surrounding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of TMDs. An existing United Kingdom-based multidisciplinary care pathway for the management of TMDs is described herein, highlighting the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach to patient care for TMDs.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Critical Pathways*
Facial Pain / diagnosis
Facial Pain / etiology
Facial Pain / therapy
Humans
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders* / diagnosis
United Kingdom