The temporomandibular joint pain dysfunction syndrome.

When a patient complains of headache, neckache, or earache and these are associated with noisy temporomandibular joint function, restricted opening or increased pain when chewing, a temporomandibular joint or masticatory muscle disorder should be considered in the differential diagnosis, because signs and symptoms of these disorders are common in all age groups. This article indicates the more common etiological contributions, that is, microtrauma, repeated microtrauma, muscle hyperactivity, and arthritis, which may contribute singly or in combination to produce the so-called temporomandibular joint pain dysfunction syndrome, and how treatment can often be improved by a team approach.