Historia clínica, examen físico y estrategias adicionales para desórdenes temporomandibulares y dolor orofacial I

Abstract

The establishment  of an adequate  diagnosis  and  treatment   plan in a patient with temporomandibular  disorders  (TMD)  and orofacial  pain  (OFP) is strictly related to the correct recollection  of the information associated with  the different  signs  and  symptoms  of  the patient.  One of the principal reasons for failure of TMD and OFP treatment is incorrect diagnosis  of  the  patient which lead to the establishment   of   bad   management   and   consequences that could be truly devastating  for  the patierus.  For these reasons  and  to  confront  the inherent complexity of orofacial pain in clinical practice, the diagnostic process  must be systematic and supported with good levels of reliability and validity which will  allow the clinician to have a greater  certainly  in  the  establishment  of  the  differential diagnosis. The  purpose of this article is to present a protocol  for evaluation that illustrates in a logical  and structured way the different steps in  the evaluation  process.  This also  allows  the  clinician  to reduce the level of uncertainty  in the differential diagnosis  and in the same way, increase the level of success  in  the management  of  TMD/  OFP.