Classification of Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD)
Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) are a significant public health concern as they are the second most common musculoskeletal condition resulting in pain and disability. Within the realm of orofacial pain there is poorly defined terminology, nomenclature and diagnostic methodology therefore experts previously set out to establish a cohesive method for screening, evaluating and classifying TMD. Based on the previous success of the TMD screening tools the current study was undertaken to update and optimize the tools to improve on their validity.
Through a series of workshops and orofacial pain symposia TMD experts and basic researchers set out to modify the current TMD classification scheme.
The classification tools are divided into two components: Axis I and Axis II. Axis I is a diagnostic algorithm designed to validly categorize the most common pain-related TMD as well as one intra-articular disorder (the others lacked adequate validity). Axis II attempts to quantify: pain intensity, jaw function, disability, psychosocial distress and behavior. Lastly, when compared to the original TMD protocol the revised edition includes a valid and reliable questionnaire for screening pain-related TMD. Taken together, the present study builds on the previous diagnostic framework of accurately and validly identifying the most common TMD. Furthermore, it attempts to provide a common nomenclature for all health care practitioners dealing with this often vague and intimidating condition.
> From: Schiffman et al., J Oral Facial Pain Headache (2015) 40(Epub ahead of print). All rights reserved to . Click here for the Pubmed summary.
