Interdisciplinary aspects of rehabilitation of patients with the functional disorders of temporomandibular joint

Abstract

Objective: Designing effective interdisciplinary scheme for the diagnosis and treatment of functional disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Methods: 76 patients with complaints of pain, discomfort and constraint in masticatory muscles and TMJ, and headache were examined. When diagnosing, testing was carried out according to the Hamburg Protocol; according to its results three study groups were formed. Results: With minor initial functional changes in the muscles (group 1), splint therapy is sufficient to achieve the clinical effect. In more severe cases (2 nd and 3 rd groups), the use of transcranial electrical stimulation is effective, and muscle relaxants should be prescribed only if the latter is ineffective. Conclusions: An optimal differentiated scheme of interdisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of patients with functional TMJ disorders has been developed: an express examination according to the Hamburg Protocol determines the severity of the pathology, and electromyography is used not only as a diagnostic, but also as an evaluation criterion for the effectiveness of interdisciplinary rehabilitation at the intermediate and final stages.