The dental literature on occlusion and myogenous orofacial pain: application of critical thinking.
OBJECTIVE
To enhance the reader's critical thinking when reading the dental literature on the relationship of occlusion and myogenous orofacial pain (MOP).


METHODS
Representative journal articles and systematic reviews from the dental literature confirming and denying a relationship of occlusion to MOP were analyzed and reviewed.


RESULTS
Studies using computerized occlusal analysis (COA) consistently find a relationship of the occlusion to MOP. Studies that do not confirm this relationship have problems with invalid primary source conclusions, unstated assumptions, bias, and errors in logic that disqualify their conclusion.


CONCLUSIONS
This review explains four categories of problems with the dental literature that denies occlusion has a relationship with MOP. When the reader understands these examples of flaws in this literature, they can apply this critical thinking to future studies. Correct interpretation of the literature on occlusion and MOP requires a foundation of basic and clinical scientific knowledge as well as an understanding of the details of the primary source articles.
a Visiting Faculty at The Pankey Institute and in private practice Mill Valley , CA.
Roger Alan
RA
Solow
D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007598:Journalism, Dental; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019558:Occlusal Adjustment; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013850:Thinking
Bias; Myogenous pain; Occlusal equilibration; Orofacial pain