Introduction. At the reception of an orthodontist, patients with pain in the maxillofacial region and internal disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are not uncommon. The combination of these pathological conditions is characterized by the complexity of interdisciplinary therapy and frequent recurrence.
The aim of the study was to analyze the detectability and effectiveness of treatment of myofascial pain disorders and internal disorders of the temporomandibular joint in adult patients with dental anomalies.
Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of the case histories of 300 adult patients with dental anomalies who underwent examination and treatment in a multidisciplinary dental clinic was carried out. The analysis concerned patients with at least five years since the beginning of orthodontic treatment. The prevalence and structure of internal disorders of the temporomandibular joint and myofascial pain disorders were assessed and the results of their correction were analyzed.
Results and their discussion. Orthodontic treatment was more often needed by patients with myofascial pain (71.5%), then (28.3%) with myofascial facial pain syndrome. In these patients, internal TMJ disorders and maxillary anomalies of class II according to Engl with unilateral distal occlusion, deep bite, as well as class I with crowding of teeth are more often detected. Internal TMJ disorders with concomitant myofascial pain disorders in the form of myofascial pain were observed in 82.4% of patients; myofascial pain disorders without internal TMJ disorders were registered in 17.4% of patients. In the study, the overall effectiveness of the treatment of internal TMJ disorders and myofascinal pain disorders was 46.4%; no lasting improvement was observed in 35.7%; deterioration was recorded in 17.8%. Relapses were noted in 60.7%. In the treatment of myofascinal pain disorders without internal TMJ disorders, the overall effectiveness of treatment was 5.5%, stabilization -50.0% and deterioration 44.4%.
Conclusions. Myofascial facial pain is very difficult to treat. The combination with internal TMJ disorders creates significant, sometimes insurmountable difficulties in the orthodontic treatment of adults. All this forces specialists to look for new approaches to optimizing orthodontic treatment in conditions of TMJ pathology and myofascial pain disorders.