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Clinical Management of Temporomandibular Joint Diseases
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Clinical Management of Temporomandibular Joint Diseases

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Dentistry, Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 October 2025 | Viewed by 1501

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Nansi López-Valverde

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca (IBSAL), University of Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Interests: temporomandibular joint disorders; dental occlusion; chronic pain; occlusal splints; risk factors
Prof. Dr. Bruno Macedo Sousa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Occlusion and Orofacial Pain, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Polo I-Edificio Central Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: pain; orofacial pain; temporomandibular disorders; masticatory muscles; temporomandibular joint
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of pathologies that represent a significant public health problem, affecting approximately 10% of the population. Currently, they are the second most common musculoskeletal condition after chronic low-back pain, causing disability and pain in patients who suffer from them.

The most frequent clinical manifestations of TMDs include pain, limited mouth opening, muscle or joint tenderness to palpation, alterations in jaw movements, joint noises, and otological complaints such as tinnitus or vertigo, all of which negatively affect the daily activities and quality of life of individuals.

The diagnosis and classification of TMD present certain difficulties. However, the adoption of new precision therapeutic approaches based on current diagnostic criteria, including genetic, epigenetic, and neurobiological factors, makes this field an exciting topic in clinical medicine.

This Special Issue aims to bring together articles on TMDs, covering both diagnostic updates and therapeutic innovations, not forgetting new developments in their classification.

Dr. Nansi López-Valverde
Prof. Dr. Bruno Macedo Sousa
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • temporomandibular joint disorders
  • dental occlusion
  • chronic pain
  • occlusal splints
  • risk factors

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2201 KiB  
Article
Effect of Photobiomodulation in Patients with Temporomandibular Dysfunction Refractory to Botulinum Toxin Treatment: A Non-Controlled Multicentric Pilot Study
by José Antonio Blanco Rueda, Antonio López-Valverde, Antonio Marquez-Vera, Natàlia dos Reis Ferreira, Bruno Macedo de Sousa and Nansi López-Valverde
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(11), 3778; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14113778 - 28 May 2025
Viewed by 33
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Temporomandibular disorders are a heterogeneous group of degenerative musculoskeletal conditions that present a series of symptoms such as pain, dysfunction of the masticatory muscles and/or temporomandibular joints, structural abnormalities, and limitation or alteration of mandibular movements. The objective of this study [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Temporomandibular disorders are a heterogeneous group of degenerative musculoskeletal conditions that present a series of symptoms such as pain, dysfunction of the masticatory muscles and/or temporomandibular joints, structural abnormalities, and limitation or alteration of mandibular movements. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy with low-power laser in patients refractory to treatment with botulinum toxin type A. Methods: A multicenter prospective experimental pilot study was proposed, in which 10 patients between 33 and 68 (50 ± 11.2) years old participated, assigned to a laser group (940 nm diode laser) who had previously been treated with a minimum of three doses of botulinum toxin type A without obtaining positive results. The patients underwent four photobiomodulation sessions over 4 weeks (registered at ClinicalTrials NCT06915064). Painful symptoms were evaluated using a visual analog scale at different locations, the pressure pain threshold using algometry, and the maximum vertical mandibular movement determined using digital calipers. The results were recorded four weeks after the end of treatment. Adverse effects were also evaluated. Results: Pain in the masticatory muscles was reduced in 70% of patients with statistically significant values (p = 0.002); a total of 60% of patients showed a considerable reduction in joint noise with outstanding statistical significance (p = 0.015). The majority of participants reported a reduction in the intensity of headaches after treatment. However, it only produced a slight improvement in maximum mouth opening and lateral excursions. Algometric values in the masticatory muscles showed improvement only in the left-sided irradiated muscles. Conclusions: Photobiomodulation therapy is a non-invasive treatment option for temporomandibular disorders that generates positive effects in cases refractory to treatment with botulinum toxin type A. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Temporomandibular Joint Diseases)
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11 pages, 520 KiB  
Article
Office-Based Arthroscopy Versus Arthrocentesis as Treatment for Temporomandibular Joint Pain and Dysfunction: Preliminary Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
by Yang Hang Tang, Nico B. van Bakelen, Barzi Gareb and Fred K. L. Spijkervet
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(9), 2929; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14092929 - 24 Apr 2025
Viewed by 352
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Arthroscopy and arthrocentesis are routinely performed for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, but high-quality evidence regarding their efficacy relative to each other is scarce. The current study, as part of an ongoing randomized controlled trial, aimed to compare office-based arthroscopic lysis and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Arthroscopy and arthrocentesis are routinely performed for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, but high-quality evidence regarding their efficacy relative to each other is scarce. The current study, as part of an ongoing randomized controlled trial, aimed to compare office-based arthroscopic lysis and lavage with arthrocentesis for TMJ pain and dysfunction. Methods: Adults (≥18 years old) referred to a tertiary care hospital with TMJ arthralgia were included. The exclusion criteria comprised systemic rheumatic disease, connective tissue disease, bony ankylosis, congenital or acquired dentofacial deformities, a history of significant jaw trauma, or systemic illnesses. The primary outcome was joint pain during mandibular movement/function (visual analog scale (VAS); 0–100 mm). The secondary outcomes included pain at rest (VAS), maximum mouth opening (mm), maximum mouth opening without increased pain (mm), protrusive and lateral movements (mm), joint noises (absent/present), and mandibular function (mandibular function impairment questionnaire score). The outcomes were registered at baseline and 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Linear mixed models and mixed-effects logistic regressions were utilized to evaluate the effects of interventions on the repeated outcome measurements. Results: Twenty subjects were randomly allocated to office-based arthroscopic lysis and lavage (n = 10) or arthrocentesis (n = 10). Multivariable mixed-effects models showed significantly higher pain scores during mandibular movement/function in the arthrocentesis group compared with arthroscopy (22.42 mm (95% CI: 5.28 to 39.57); p = 0.011). The secondary outcomes were not significantly different between the interventions. Conclusions: The preliminary results show the superiority of office-based arthroscopy over arthrocentesis in reducing pain during mandibular movement/function over a follow-up period of 1 year while showing no differences between interventions regarding other study outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Temporomandibular Joint Diseases)
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11 pages, 270 KiB  
Article
Is Generalized Joint Hypermobility Associated with Chronic Painful Temporomandibular Disorders in Young Adults? A Cross-Sectional Study
by Cláudia Barbosa, Sandra Gavinha, Tânia Soares, Tiago Reis and Conceição Manso
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(1), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14010044 - 25 Dec 2024
Viewed by 737
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) is a common condition characterized by an increased range of motion across multiple joints. Previous studies have suggested a possible association between GJH and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of GJH in a [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) is a common condition characterized by an increased range of motion across multiple joints. Previous studies have suggested a possible association between GJH and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of GJH in a Portuguese population of young university adults and to explore the relationship between GJH, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms/clinical findings, chronic painful TMDs, and chronic painful TMDs subtypes (myalgia, arthralgia, or combined myalgia and arthralgia). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Oporto university institutions, involving 1249 students (18–25 years). GJH was assessed using the Beighton score cut-off ≥ 4. TMJ symptoms and clinical findings were collected using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD protocol, as well as TMD diagnoses. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to examine the associations between GJH and the variables of interest. Results: The overall prevalence of GJH was 41.9%, with females exhibiting a significantly higher likelihood of GJH (p < 0.001). A statistically significant association was found between GJH and TMJ clicking (p < 0.05). Although no overall association was found between GJH and chronic painful TMDs, GJH was significantly associated with the combined diagnosis of myalgia and arthralgia (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results suggest that GJH may be associated with the more complex subtypes of chronic painful TMDs. However, due to the small size effect of this association, future longitudinal studies with large samples using GJH broader diagnostic criteria are essential to elucidate the relationship between GJH and painful TMDs in asymptomatic nonsyndromic joint hypermobility populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Management of Temporomandibular Joint Diseases)
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