1/4. Oral appliance management of obstructive sleep apnea: a case report.Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring are common related conditions with major health and social implications. OSA is a progressive disease with symptoms of daytime sleepiness and chronic cardiovascular morbidity A mandibular advancement oral appliance is the only nonsurgical management modality available if continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) cannot be tolerated. A patient who had been diagnosed with OSA was successfully treated but developed a posterior open bite and symptomatic temporomandibular joints (TMJ). An integrated approach to managing his OSA and TMJ conditions enabled him to have a comfortable and stable bite and to continue using his obstructive sleep apnea appliance. Management of OSA with an oral appliance should be handled by a dentist who is trained and experienced in the overall care of oral health, temporomandibular joints, dental occlusion, and associated structures. A team approach starting with the diagnosis of OSA by a physician and management by a dentist is described.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/4. lyme disease misdiagnosed as a temporomandibular joint disorder.craniomandibular disorders cause many pleomorphic and seemingly unrelated clinical manifestations that mimic other more serious medical problems and thus can present physicians and dentists with a challenge that invites misdiagnosis and improper treatment planning. Conversely, misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment planning are facilitated when serious medical problems manifest a range of signs and symptoms that are clinically similar to temporomandibular joint muscle dysfunction. At times, the patient's response to therapy may be the best method of corroborating a diagnosis, as illustrated in this report of a patient with lyme disease that was misdiagnosed as a temporomandibular joint disorder. lyme disease has already reached epidemic proportions in several parts of the united states and its geographic distribution is spreading. Because lyme disease is a life-threatening illness whose clinical manifestations can mimic temporomandibular joint/myofascial pain-dysfunction, it is the responsibility of every dentist who treats craniomandibular disorders to become familiar with the clinical presentations of lyme disease and more proficient in its differential diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/4. Muscular contraction headache and dental imbalance.A physical explanation for the contraction of the muscles of mastication, in muscular contraction headache, is described. It is suggested the role of tension is over emphasized as the main aetiological factor. In the younger dentate group, the presence of dental imbalance requires diagnosis by a dental practitioner. In the older, edentulous group, the family physician can easily diagnose mandibular overclosure from the facies (Fig. 1) or absence of molar teeth (Fig. 7) especially if combined with wearing the same set of dentures for more than ten years. When these signs are present, the family physician should consider referring such patients for a dental opinion.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/4. High-resolution SPECT of the temporomandibular joint in chronic craniofacial pain disorders: a pilot study.Chronic craniofacial pain disorders commonly cause physicians diagnostic difficulties. The purpose of this study was, on one hand, to detect pathological focuses of the craniofacial skeleton using a new system of high-resolution single photon emission computertomography (SPECT), and on the other hand, to compare the results with those obtained via high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as far as temporomandibular joint affections are concerned. SPECT can be regarded as a supplementary diagnostic mean for patients displaying the symptoms of chronic craniofacial pain disorders, especially in cases where clinical and paraclinical investigations do not coincide or which are refractory to treatment, not least to differentiate between somatic and psychogenic causes, respectively.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |