SCREENING FOR TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS IN DENTAL PRACTICE

A simple screening procedure to determine evidence of a temporomandibu lar disorder (TMD) in a patient is presented. The current view is that dentists are responsible for the recognition and management of these disorders. The dentist should therefore perform a TMD screening examin ation on every patient and document the patient's functional status. I f this is not known then it is impossible to discuss with the patient the possible implications of proposed dental treatment which could pot entially worsen a pre-existing TMD. Unless functional status is docume nted and informed consent obtained from the patient prior to proceedin g with dental treatment, the dentist may be held liable should TMD pro blems develop during or after the treatment.