Masseter Tenomyositis

Abstract

The masseter muscle is an integral part of the oral facial complex and one of the muscles of mastication. It functions with the other masticatory muscles in moving and posturing the mandible and in verbalizing, eating and swallowing. When a patient has temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) or a myogenic disorder, the integrity of the masseter muscle can be compromised resulting in pain, malfunction, inflammation and/or swelling. A careful evaluation of the masseter muscles is necessary in facial pain patients since the pain can originate from a distant site and be referred to this area. One of the little known disorders involving the masseter and its tendinous origin is tenomyositis, in which an inflammation of the muscle and its tendon occurs. In this retrospective study, the charts of 114 consecutive patients (N=114) were evaluated to determine the prevalence of this disorder and the reported etiology.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

John S. DuPont

Dr. John S. DuPont, Jr. has authored a number of published articles and manuals on the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular joint disease. He has diplomate status in the American Board of Forensic Dentistry (ABFD) and the American Academy of Pain Management (AAPM) and holds fellowships in the International College of Cranio- Mandibular Orthopedics (ICCMO) and the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

Christopher E. Brown

Dr. Christopher E. Brown practices in New Orleans, LA. He is a fellow-eligible member of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain (AACP) and a diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management (AAPM). He also serves as an adjunct clinical professor to the senior class patient clinic of the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry.