The Differential Diagnosis of Temporomandibular Disorders

Patients and practitioners often embrace the diagnosis of a temporomandibular disorder (TMD¡ for patients presenting with unexplained orofacial pain or dysfuncrion, without adequate consideration of other possible diagnoses, Further, once this diagnosis has been made, only the arthritides and musculoligamentous and mechanical intra articular disorders may be considered. What is presented here is not intended as yet another classification for either orofacial pain or TMD. Rather, an orderly, practical, and scientifically based process for the development of a reasonable differential diagnosis is suggested for the practitioner confronted with a patient presenting with a primary complaint of pain involving the orofacial complex.

orofacial pain; temporomandibular disorders; trauma; neoplasms