Electromyography in diagnosing temporomandibular disorders.

Background: Although electromyography (EMG) has been used extensively in dentistry to assess masticatory muscle impairments in several conditions, especially temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), many investigators have questioned its psychometric properties and accuracy in diagnosing TMD.

Types Of Studies Reviewed: The authors conducted a systematic review to analyze the literature critically and determine the accuracy of EMG in diagnosing TMDs. They conducted an electronic search of MEDLINE, Embase, all Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews, Allied and Complementary Medicine, Ovid HealthSTAR and SciVerse Scopus.

Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for treatment of temporomandibular joint degenerative pain: a systematic review.

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) to relieve temporomandibular joint (TMJ) degenerative joint disease (DJD) pain.

Methods: A search of the literature was made using electronic databases complemented with a manual search. Clinical trials comparing topical NSAID with either placebo or an alternative active treatment to treat TMJ DJD pain were identified.

Head and cervical posture in patients with temporomandibular disorders.

Aim: To determine whether patients with myogenous or mixed (ie, myogeneous plus arthrogeneous) temporomandibular disorders (TMD) had different head and cervical posture measured through angles commonly used in clinical research settings when compared to healthy individuals.

Methods: One hundred fifty-four persons participated in this study. Of these, 50 subjects were healthy, 55 subjects had myogenous TMD, and 49 subjects had mixed TMD (ie, arthrogenous plus myogenous TMD).

Patients with temporomandibular disorders have increased fatigability of the cervical extensor muscles.

Objectives: To determine whether patients with myogenous and mixed temporomandibular disorders (TMD) have greater fatigability of the cervical extensor muscles while performing a neck extensor muscle endurance test (NEMET) when compared with healthy controls.

Methods: A total of 151 individuals participated in this study. Of these 47 were healthy controls, 57 patients had myogenous TMD, and 47 patients had mixed TMD.

Electromyographic activity of the cervical flexor muscles in patients with temporomandibular disorders while performing the craniocervical flexion test: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Most patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) have been shown to have cervical spine dysfunction. However, this cervical dysfunction has been evaluated only qualitatively through a general clinical examination of the cervical spine.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients with TMD had increased activity of the superficial cervical muscles when performing the craniocervical flexion test (CCFT) compared with a control group of individuals who were healthy.

Reduced endurance of the cervical flexor muscles in patients with concurrent temporomandibular disorders and neck disability.

Subjects with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) have been found to have clinical signs and symptoms of cervical dysfunction. Although many studies have investigated the relationship between the cervical spine and TMD, no study has evaluated the endurance capacity of the cervical muscles in patients with TMD. Thus the objective of this study was to determine whether patients with TMD had a reduced endurance of the cervical flexor muscles at any level of muscular contraction when compared with healthy subjects.

Is maximal strength of the cervical flexor muscles reduced in patients with temporomandibular disorders?

Objective: To determine whether there was a difference in maximal cervical flexor muscle strength in subjects with temporomandibular disorders (mixed and myogenous) compared with healthy subjects.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Orthopedics/sports laboratory at the University of Alberta.

The association between the cervical spine, the stomatognathic system, and craniofacial pain: a critical review.

Aims: Craniofacial pain is a term that encompasses pain in the head, face, and related structures. Multiple etiologies and factors may be related to craniofacial pain; however, the association between the cervical spine and its related structures and craniofacial pain is still a topic of debate. The objective of this critical review was to present and analyze the evidence of the associations between the cervical spine, stomatognathic system, and craniofacial pain.

Analgesic action of gabapentin on chronic pain in the masticatory muscles: a randomized controlled trial.

Chronic masticatory myalgia (CMM) can be defined as constant pain in the masticatory muscles for more than 6 months and is influenced by the central nervous system. The antiepileptic agent gabapentin acts centrally and is used for managing different types of chronic pain conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the analgesic action of gabapentin on CMM.

The association between head and cervical posture and temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review.

Aims: To carry out a systematic review to assess the evidence concerning the association between head and cervical posture and temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

Methods: A search of Medline, Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, Lilacs, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted in all languages with the help of a health sciences librarian. Key words used in the search were posture, head posture, cervical spine or neck, vertebrae, cervical lordosis, craniomandibular disorders or temporomandibular disorders, temporomandibular disorders, and orofacial pain or facial pain.

Triptans for treatment of acute pediatric migraine: a systematic literature review.

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of triptans for the treatment of acute migraine in children and adolescents. Randomized and open label trials of triptans in acute pediatric patients (ages 6-18 years) were identified by Medline (1966-2002) and PubMed (1991-2002). Additional reports were identified from the reference list of the retrieved studies.

Topical review: sleep bruxism and the role of peripheral sensory influences.

Sleep bruxism (SB) is an unusual orofacial movement described as a parafunction in dentistry and as a parasomnia in sleep medicine. Since several peripheral influences could be involved in sleep-wake regulation and the genesis of rhythmic jaw movements, the authors have reviewed the relevant literature to facilitate understanding of mechanisms possibly involved in SB genesis. Various animal and human studies indicate that during either wakefulness or anesthesia, orofacial sensory inputs (e.

The significance of saliva during sleep and the relevance of oromotor movements.

Saliva is an essential component of the oroesophageal milieu and allows for normal speech, taste, mastication, food bolus formation and swallowing. Saliva has important functions in protecting the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity from acids and pathogenic microbes. A large number of people suffer either subjective or objective alterations in quantity and/or quality of their saliva that may be secondary to disease, medications, medical treatments or emotional events.