Changes in understanding of painful temporomandibular disorders: The history of a transformation

Nicolas Patricio Skármeta*, Maria Cecilia Pesce, Josefina Saldivia, Paula Espinoza-Mellado, Francisca Montini, Claudio Sotomayor

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: The understanding the etiology of painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD) has evolved over the last eight decades. Evidence-based systematic research had questioned historical concepts and abandoned preconceived dogmas based purely on mechanically based etiologies, transforming TMD into a complex musculoskeletal chronic pain model. Unfortunately, many of these old ideas persist in undergraduate education and the dental community. Revisiting the historical development and the way the etiology of painful TMD has changed over the years may be helpful to understand the complexities of TMD as a group of chronic pain pathologies. Method and materials: A literature search using the MeSH terms:“temporomandibular joint disorders,” “TMD,” “etiology,” “causality,” “history,” and “evolution” using Medline and Scopus databases was conducted aiming to answer the focused question: “In what ways has etiologic understanding of temporomandibular disorders evolved?” A narrative review was performed with the selected studies, highlighting significant contributions that have transformed TMD from a purely mechanical-based phenomenon into a chronic pain biopsychosocial disease model.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)662-669
Number of pages8
JournalQuintessence International
Volume50
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Quintessence Publishing Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Dentistry

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