Articulatia Temporo Mandibulara 10 Cauze A Problemelor.docx

1. Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are musculo-skeletal conditions…not occlusal pathologies [AADR Statement, 2010]! 2. The onset of TMD signs and symptoms is rarely attributable to a single etiological factor (multifactorial etiopathogenesis) [Klasser et al., 2017]. 3. TMD diagnosis is based on clinical assessment and history taking [Schiffman et al., 2014]. 4. None of the available “technological” devices (e.g., electromyography, kinesiography, postural platforms, condilography, other electronical recordings) has diagnostic value, because they do not correlate with symptoms [Manfredini et al., 2011]. The best diagnostic instrument is our brain! 5. Imaging techniques

(Magnetic

Resonance

[MRI],

Computerized

Tomography [CT]) are required in selected cases and/or as a second-step diagnostic assessment in individuals who do not respond to common conservative treatment [Petersson, 2010]. 6. TMD treatment is seldom a true causal therapy [Greene, 2001]. 7. TMD treatment is often provided in the form of symptoms management, with focus on the psychosocial correlates of pain [List & Axelsson, 2010]. 8.

Symptoms

management

can

be

usually

achieved

by

means

of conservative and reversible approaches (e.g., counseling; physiotherapy; cognitive-behavioral treatments; physical therapy; oral appliances without predetermined

occlusal

designs;

pharmacotherapy

for

pain

control;

arthrocentesis) [Manfredini et al., 2011]. 9. Irreversible occlusal treatments (e.g., orthodontics; prosthodontics; occlusal adjustments; oral appliances to search for an “ideal” interarch relationship) are not recommended and should not be used to prevent and/or treat TMDs [Manfredini et al., 2016]. 10. Patients with chronic pain require a multimodal approach managed by an expert in orofacial pain, with focus on phenomena of central sensitization and maladaptive pain experience [Harper et al., 2016].

10bis. Evidence-based dentistry and professional deontology require clinicians to consider the patient (and his/her pain), and not the dentist (and his/her unuseful technicisms and dogmaticms), as the fulcrum of the diagnostic and treatment program [Reid & Greene, 2013]!