IDENTIFYING A NEUROBIOLOGICAL BASIS FOR DRUG-THERAPY IN TMDS

Emerging results from clinical and basic research indicate that persis tent pain results in changes in the central nervous system. These chan ges may help explain chronic orofacial pain and lead to new therapies. The authors review data that support the use of tricyclic antidepress ants for neurogenic or atypical pain, and benzodiazepines for musculos keletal pain. Dentists must weigh the benefits of the chronic administ ration of a drug for the management of temporomandibular disorders aga inst the equivocal scientific support for the use of many drug classes and the potential for serious toxicity with prolonged administration.