Temporomandibular disorders are complex dysfunctions of masticatory muscles and temporomandibular joints. Their symptoms affect more than 40% of the population and their prevalence is rising. It is important to establish a unified protocol for this specialistic examination. This review describes the authors’ own longstanding experiences and the discrepancies in the current literature regarding this topic as well as a detailed procedure of diagnosing temporomandibular disorders including the leading but often underrated role of a medical interview. We presented optimal physical examination methods as well as specific situations in which additional diagnostic and imaging tools may be useful. The emphasis was put on the importance of differential diagnosis between temporomandibular disorders and other diseases presenting with similar symptoms.

Background: Disorders of the masticatory muscles and temporomandibular joints as well as the surrounding craniofacial structures are called temporomandibular disorders. These are dental diseases affecting an increasing number of people with a multifactorial etiology. Noninvasive ultrasonography imaging of temporomandibular joints was performed to obtain more detailed information on joint pathologies. Material and Methods: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of ultrasound examinations of the temporomandibular joints on the diagnosis and treatment planning in patients with temporomandibular disorders. The study included 110 patients examined with the use of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders questionnaire, axis I and II, after which the initial treatment plan was created. All patients underwent an ultrasound examination of the temporomandibular joints. Results: The results reveal numerous morphological changes within the joint structures in all treatment groups. Comparative statistical analyses of symptoms were performed between study groups. Conclusions: The number of pathologies in the myofascial pain group was much higher than expected and required introduction of additional treatment procedures. Further studies confirming these results and the effectiveness of ultrasound diagnostic of temporomandibular disorders are recommended.

Introduction: The conditioning procedures for glass-based ceramic restorations before adhesive cementation are generally recognized. In the case of polycrystalline ceramics, which include zirconium oxide, there is still no standardized protocol. The aim of this work was to present conditioning methods of the cementation surface of zirconium oxide fixed dentures. The new generation high translucency zirconia has been also considered. Material and method: The following keywords for the PUBMED and EMBASE databases were used: zirconium oxide, zirconium oxide with increased translucency, bond strength, bending strength, surface treatment. The inclusion criteria were original papers in English published between 2015–2021. Results: Out of 1537 publications, 53 articles were selected for the study, covering methods of conditioning zirconium ceramics, including new materials with increased translucency. These procedures were divided into 5 main groups. Summary: Due to the widespread use of zirconia ceramics and the introduction of new zirconia-based materials, the use of a predictable and standardized cementation protocol is one of the most important factors contributing to the long-term clinical success of prosthetic restorations. Therefore, the research showed differences in the properties of the covered materials after conditioning. It suggests the need to create separate conditioning protocols for highly translucent and traditional zirconia.

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