title: The validity and utility of disease detection methods and of occlusal therapy for temporomandibular disorders.
abstract: Our evaluation of the clinical usefulness or devices for the diagnosis or treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) led to the conclusion that the only current gold standard for TMD is a global clinical examination, because none of the instruments can be said to provide more than ancillary documentation and none have proven diagnostic validity or utility. Regarding the therapeutic efficacy of occlusal adjustment, we could find no comparative studies that test the efficacy of occlusal adjustment in preventing TMD. The studies we reviewed on the relationship of occlusion to TMD are not convincing, powerful, or practical enough to make any recommendations about a causal association.
authors.affiliation: Section of Diagnostic Sciences and Orofacial Pain, UCLA School of Dentistry, USA.
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsukiyama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simmons
mesh_terms: D016302:Centric Relation; D003768:Dental Occlusion, Centric; D003769:Dental Occlusion, Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D003945:Diagnosis, Oral / Q000295:instrumentation; D004282:Documentation; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D007574:Jaw Relation Record / Q000295:instrumentation; D019558:Occlusal Adjustment; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures; D014716:Vertical Dimension