Is painful temporomandibular disorder a real headache for many patients?

Pankaew Yakkaphan; Leigh-Ann Elias; Priya Thimma Ravindranath; Tara Renton

doi:10.1038/s41415-024-7178-1

Is painful temporomandibular disorder a real headache for many patients?

Br Dent J. 2024 Mar;236(6):475-482. doi: 10.1038/s41415-024-7178-1. Epub 2024 Mar 22.

Authors

Pankaew Yakkaphan¹, Leigh-Ann Elias², Priya Thimma Ravindranath³, Tara Renton³

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Science, King´s College London, London, UK; Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand. pankaew.yakkaphan@kcl.ac.uk.
² Orofacial Pain Service, Department of Oral Surgery, King´s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
³ Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Science, King´s College London, London, UK; Orofacial Pain Service, Department of Oral Surgery, King´s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and primary headaches are common pain conditions and often co-exist. TMD classification includes the term 'headache secondary to TMD' but this term does not acknowledge the likelihood that primary headache pathophysiology underpins headache causing painful TMD signs and symptoms in many patients. The two disorders have a complex link and we do not fully understand their interrelationship. However, growing evidence shows a significant association between the two disorders. This article reviews the possible connection between temporomandibular disorders and primary headaches, specifically migraine, both anatomically and pathogenetically.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Facial Pain / etiology
Headache / etiology
Humans
Migraine Disorders* / complications
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders* / complications
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders* / diagnosis