Conservative treatment modalities for patients with temporomandibular joint(TMJ) disorders

Kim,  Cheul

J Korean Dent Assoc > Volume 51(2); 2013 > Article

The Journal of The Korean Dental Association 2013;51(2):74-83.
Published online February 28, 2013.

임상가를 위한 특집 1 - 턱관절장애의 보존적 치료

김철

강릉원주대학교 치과대학 구강내과진단학교실 및 구강과학연구소

Conservative treatment modalities for patients with temporomandibular joint(TMJ) disorders

Cheul Kim

Department of Oral Medicine & Diagnosis, College of Dentistry, and Research Institute of Oral Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University

Abstract

In the management of temporomandibular joint(TMJ) disorders, dental practioner should conduct the reversible, conservative, and inexpensive treatment modalities prior to the irreversible and invasive treatment. That is to say, behavioral, pharmacologic, and physical therapy should be conducted firstly, and then the occlusal appliance therapy could be considered. If patients do not react to these conservative treatments, we have to consider surgical treatments. If the accurate diagnosis is confirmed by intimate history taking, clinical and imaging examinations, we can rehabilitate the normal TMJ function and relieve the clinical symptoms with only conservative treatments in most TMJ disorder cases.

Key Words: temporomandibular joint(TMJ) disorders;conservative treatments;