J Orofac Pain
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Pain-pressure thresholds of the head and neck region of 31 female patients (aged 13 to 50 years; mean, 28.4 +/- 9.6 years) suffering from episodic tension-type headache and 32 female control subjects (aged 15 to 46 years; mean, 26.6 +/- 8.6 years) were recorded with an electronic algometer by the same blinded observer. The multivariate analysis of variance revealed that the algometer values obtained from different age groups of patients and control subjects were statistically different, but the values for the right-side muscles were not statistically different from the corresponding values for the left-side muscles. ⋯ The results may indicate that pain-pressure thresholds of the head and neck region should be considered in the diagnosis of episodic tension-type headache. The results may also propose that the increased pain sensitivity of the head and, especially, the neck region, may be included in the pathogenetic mechanism in episodic tension-type headache.
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Temporomandibular disorders is a common form of chronic pain affecting the head, face, and jaw. The distinguishing symptoms of this disorder include pain and impairment of the masticatory function, and frequent display of symptoms, ranging from aches in the head, neck, ears, and eyes, to atypical toothaches, throat symptoms, and occlusal changes. ⋯ This article is a review of the literature on the psychophysiologic factors contributing to temporomandibular disorders and its limitations. Recommendations for future research are also given.
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Comparative Study
Pain-related limitation in activities of daily living in patients with chronic orofacial pain: psychometric properties of a disability index.
Pain-related limitations in activities of daily living are presented for 272 patients reporting orofacial pain of the temporomandibular region using the seven-item Pain Disability Index. Results showed that the factor structure for orofacial pain patients differed little from the factor structure for outpatients visiting chronic pain clinic settings. ⋯ The factor analytical findings indicated that these patients share common pain-related limitations in activities of daily living. These findings are also consistent with previous results indicating greater pain in orofacial pain patients diagnosed with pain complaints primarily myogenous in origin than in pain patients having discal disorders.
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Case Reports
Benign indomethacin-responsive headaches presenting in the orofacial region: eight case reports.
Indomethacin-responsive headaches can present in the orofacial region. According to the classification of headache by the International Headache Society, indomethacin-responsive headaches include chronic paroxysmal hemicrania, hemicrania continue, benign cough headache, benign exertional headache, and sharp, short-lived headache pain syndrome. ⋯ Because these headache disorders are rare but may present as facial pain, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of orofacial pain. A comprehensive evaluation prior to performing irreversible treatments is essential when an idiopathic facial pain presents to the dental clinician.
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Case Reports
Temporomandibular joint derangement with multiple surgical interventions: a case report.
This case report describes the experience of a 26-year-old woman who underwent multiple jaw surgeries. An initial 22 months of unsuccessful nonsurgical therapy was followed by a 7-year period during which the following were performed: 12 surgeries of her right temporomandibular joint; one surgery of her left temporomandibular joint; bilateral coronoidectomies; one surgery of her right mandible; and three surgeries of her left mandible. This case is important because although the existence of multiple jaw surgery cases are widely noted throughout the literature, this is the first case report that presents in-depth prospective documentation.