Treatment of temporomandibular joint syndrome for relief of cervical spine pain: case report.

An adult female presenting with clinical impressions of cervical myositis with radiculopathy which began three days earlier following a motor vehicle accident, was referred for dental consultation because of tenderness over the left temporomandibular joint; response of the cervical spine pain to manipulation and physical therapy, including transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), was minimal. Dental examination revealed a malocclusion and following treatment with an intraoral orthotic device, along with chiropractic care, the patient's cervical spine pain was completely relieved. It was concluded that cervical spine pain of this nature may be interrelated with temporomandibular joint syndrome due to malocclusion and that when such cervical spine pain is not satisfactorily responsive to routine chiropractic care, dental examination may be indicated.