Facial and head pain in temporo-mandibular disorders

Objectives: To study the pain occurring in masticatory disorders and establ ish a differential diagnosis. Methods: An evaluation of the clinical data collected in 419 patients, 84 m ales and 335 females, aged between 9 and 81 years [mean age 30.89]; the sam ple was divided into diagnostic subgroups, Results: Masticatory pain was the chief complaint in all the groups [76%]; headache, earache, neck and shoulder pain were more frequent in muscular di sorders and in morpho-structural changes of the stomatognatic system; refer red pain [trigger points] showed a chronic muscle condition [11.5%]. Conclusions: The subjects with discopathies suffered the least pain, while patients with myopathies, arthritis and arthrosis presented a considerable degree of facial and head pain.