J Orofac Pain
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The principal aim of the Third Educational Conference to Develop the Curriculum in Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain was to enhance the teaching of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and orofacial pain to predoctoral dental students and to postdoctoral students in this field. Within this context, the conference sought to: (1) provide information regarding the current status of the predoctoral and postdoctoral teaching of TMD and orofacial pain, (2) present ways in which teaching of the basic sciences can be better integrated into the teaching of TMD and orofacial pain in the predoctoral and postdoctoral curriculum, (3) present ways in which the teaching of oral medicine can be better integrated into the teaching of TMD and orofacial pain in the predoctoral and postdoctoral curriculum, and (4) discuss how TMD and orofacial pain should be taught in a manner that is consistent with newly proposed accreditation standards. The papers addressing these specific aspects, as well as a summary paper on the conclusions from the conference, are presented in this issue of the journal.
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This paper outlines several aspects of the integration of basic sciences into the predoctoral dental curriculum. It addresses a number of the points or questions posed by the organizers of the Third Educational Conference to Develop the Curriculum in Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain. ⋯ The paper concludes by considering at what stage of the curriculum this material should be included, how the pertinent basics sciences should be taught, and under what circumstances. Under the term "basic sciences" are included not only relevant biomedical or biologic sciences such as physiology and anatomy, but also the behavioral sciences such as psychology and cognitive science.
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To evaluate the potential capacity of a chewing exercise to differentiate chronic myofascial pain (MFP) patients from healthy controls and to test whether there are distinct pain response differences among MFP patients. ⋯ (1) A strenuous chewing exercise is a potentially beneficial tool in the diagnostic process of myofascial pain patients and, if validated, could be incorporated into clinical examinations. (2) The increase in pain intensity following the chewing exercise is typical of most of the MFP group. (3) The phenomenon of pain decrease in a small percentage of MFP patients should be further investigated.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
A randomized clinical trial using research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders-axis II to target clinic cases for a tailored self-care TMD treatment program.
To carry out a randomized clinical trial (RCT) contrasting usual conservative treatment of TMD by clinical TMD specialists with a structured self-care intervention, targeted to clinic cases independent of TMD physical diagnosis, who were reporting minimal levels of psychosocial dysfunction; the intervention was delivered by dental hygienists in lieu of usual treatment. ⋯ Use of RDC/TMD psychosocial assessment criteria can contribute to successful clinical decision-making for the management of TMD.
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This article reviews the features of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), including its pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. CRPS is a pathology that has been described as occurring almost always in a limb, but this review provides a focus on the literature reporting cases in which the face, head, and neck were affected. ⋯ Physical signs were reported less frequently. The treatment of choice was seen to be a series of stellate ganglion anesthetic blocks, which resulted in a good outcome in all the cases reviewed.