title: Diagnostic imaging for chronic orofacial pain, maxillofacial osseous and soft tissue pathology and temporomandibular disorders.
abstract: Since dentists can be faced by unusual cases during their professional life, this article reviews the common orofacial disorders that are of concern to a dentist trying to diagnose the source of pain or dysfunction symptoms, providing an overview of the essential knowledge and usage of nowadays available advanced diagnostic imaging modalities. In addition to symptom-driven diagnostic dilemmas, where such imaging is utilized, occasionally there are asymptomatic anomalies discovered by routine clinical care and/or on dental or panoramic images that need more discussion. The correct selection criteria of an image exam should be based on the individual characteristics of the patient, and the type of imaging technique should be selected depending on the specific clinical problem, the kind of tissue to be visualized, the information obtained from the imaging modality, radiation exposure, and the cost of the examination. The usage of more specialized imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, ultrasound, as well as single photon computed tomography, positron electron tomography, and their hybrid machines, SPECT/ CT and PET/CT, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Attending Faculty, Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine Center, University of Southern California School of Dentistry, Los Angeles 90089, USA.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shintaku
authors.forename: Reyes
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Enciso
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Broussard
authors.forename: Glenn T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006261:Headache / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012466:Salivary Gland Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014098:Toothache / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014463:Ultrasonography