Chronicity of orofacial pain.

Acute and chronic orofacial pain continues to be poorly understood and managed. The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) 1999 report on acute pain management promotes the development of evidence based clinical practice guidelines aimed at improving both the quality of health care and health outcomes in medical and dental practice in Australia. Nerve signals arising from sites of tissue or nerve injury lead to long term changes in the central nervous system and the amplification and persistence of pain.

Psychophysical subtypes of temporomandibular disorders.

This study presents an approach to the classification of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) based on acknowledgement of the interaction of physical, psychologic, and social factors using a multidimensional instrument that has been previously validated. The psychometric properties of this instrument were reevaluated in 140 women with TMD. Multidimensional clustering identified three subgroups of patients with TMD, including a highly distressed, psychosocially maladaptive group; a moderately distressed, behaviorally functional group; and a predominantly physical disorder group with an unremarkable psychosocial profile.

Temporomandibular disorders: Part II. A comparison of psychologic profiles in Australian and Finnish patients.

Recent recommendations regard musculoskeletal disorders of the masticatory system as dual-axis disorders, but little comparative data of psychologic factors across different pain populations are available. In this study, presenting psychologic profiles were assessed in 40 Australian and 42 Finnish patients diagnosed with temporomandibular disorders. Findings were compared with those of a group of Australian patients reporting acute dental pain and with reference to response to conservative management.

Temporomandibular disorders. Part I: A comparison of symptom profiles in Australian and Finnish patients.

Variability in the assessment methods of patients seeking treatment for musculoskeletal disorders of the masticatory system confounds comparative assessment of different studies. In this study, presenting symptom profiles were assessed in 40 Australian and 42 Finnish patients with temporomandibular disorders. The symptom parameters of these patients were compared with those of 40 Australians reporting acute dental pain and were assessed with reference to response to conservative management.

Low level laser therapy for dentinal tooth hypersensitivity.

A comparative double blind study testing low level laser therapy (Gallium/Aluminium/Arsenide laser [GaAlAs]) against placebo was carried out in the management of dentinal tooth hypersensitivity. Subjects demonstrating dentinal hypersensitivity and complying with strict selection criteria were randomly assigned to an active and placebo group. Low level laser therapy was applied for one minute to both the apex and cervical area of the tooth; and reapplied at one week, two-week and eight-week intervals.

Role of depressive illness in the outcome of treatment of temporomandibular joint pain-dysfunction syndrome.

The aim of this study was to assess the role of a depressive illness in the outcome of the treatment of patients with temporomandibular joint pain-dysfunction syndrome. One group was considered psychiatrically normal and the other had a concurrent depressive illness. The latter group was subdivided equally to produce three treatment groups: one undergoing occlusal splint therapy, one receiving antidepressant medication, and the third having a combination of occlusal splint and antidepressant therapy.

Effect of electronic dental anesthesia on pain threshold and pain tolerance levels of human teeth subjected to stimulation with an electric pulp tester.

The effect of electronic dental anesthesia on pain threshold and pain tolerance levels of human teeth subjected to stimulation with an electric pulp tester was evaluated. Subjects (n = 120) were randomly assigned to one of four experimental groups (baseline, placebo, square wave, and postsynaptic wave). Symptom-free right-sided maxillary incisor teeth were tested for anesthesia with an electric pulp tester.

The use of acupuncture as an alternative dental analgesic in an individual with multiple allergies.

Reports of the use of acupuncture in the extraction of teeth date back to 1958. There have been many conflicting findings relating to the efficacy of dental acupuncture with few effective controlled studies evaluating these claims. It is clear however that acupuncture analgesia which is adequate for dental extractions may be produced in some individuals.

Orofacial pain.

Pain or discomfort in the orofacial region usually has an organic and easily detectable cause. When an organic cause is absent or its magnitude is less than expected after the degree of concern expressed by the patient, a psychiatric factor must be considered. In such cases psychiatric treatment should be arranged to complement any necessary organic therapy.

Hypnotherapy in the treatment of oro-facial pain.

A continuing study at the Oro-Facial Pain Clinic. The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne has demonstrated that hypnotherapy is a useful tool in the management of previously resistant, chronic facial pain disorders, discomfort conditions and dental phobic illness.

Oro-facial pain.

Oro-facial pain is commonly acute, and of dental origin. There are numerous other less common, but clinically identifiable types of oro-facial pain which can be attributed to an organic cause, and which usually respond to the appropriate treatment. There is a small proportion of oro-facial pain problems, however, which are chronic and which are found to have a psychogenic element of greater or lesser magnitude, and treatment is aimed at psychological or psychiatric therapy.