title: Temporomandibular joint disorders in children.
abstract: A child's difficulty in verbalizing the precise location and nature of facial pain and jaw dysfunction often results in a nondefinitive history, increasing the importance of the dentist's awareness of the early signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). A focused examination of the masticatory musculature, the temporomandibular joints, and associated capsular and ligamentous structures can reveal if a patient's symptoms are TMD in origin. An accurate differential diagnosis enables timely referral to appropriate health care providers and minimizes the use of diagnostic imaging.
authors.affiliation: Center for Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Washington, 6222 NE 74th St, Seattle, WA 98115, USA. jhowarddds@hotmail.com
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Howard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000150:complications; D002012:Bruxism / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000150:complications; D008446:Maxillofacial Injuries / Q000150:complications; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*