A Simple Questionnaire and Clinical Examination to Help Identify Possible Non-Craniomandibular Disorders That May Influence a Patient's CMD Symptoms

ABSTRACT

A patient with craniomandibular disorder (CMD) symptoms may have CMD, a local or systemic disorder that mimics CMD, or CMD superimposed with a local or systemic disorder that exacerbates the CMD symptoms. When evaluating a patient with CMD symptoms, the practitioner needs to determine whether local or systemic problems contribute to the patient's symptoms. The author presents a simple questionnaire that can help identify some non-CMD problems that may contribute to the patient's symptoms. A discussion of each question and examples of possible non-CMD disorders are provided. The author also describes a clinical examination that may be used in conjunction with the questionnaire to help identify some non-CMD conditions.

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Notes on contributors

Edward F. Wright

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Wright, Base Dental Surgeon at the 64th Medical Squadron, Reese Air Force Base, Texas, is beginning a residency program, the TMJ and Craniofacial Pain Program, at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He graduated from Case Western Reserve University Dental School in 1977 and has been actively treating craniomandibular disorders in his general dentistry practice in the Air Force. Dr. Wright received a one-year postgraduate education through the Air Force's Advance