Electromyography and temporomandibular disorder

Abstract

Due to unknown etiopathogeny is unknown, temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) correspond to a number of clinical problems concerning the masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and its associated structures. The number of sufferers has been increasing, maybe owing to the influence of the emotional stress prevalent in the contemporary society. The origins of both the multifactorial causes and the multiplicity of clinical signs and symptoms linked to TMDs are yet to be determined, which makes it difficult to diagnose and manage. An adequate diagnosis of a TMD does not rely only on the clinical exam and imaging methods; the electromyography (EMG) has been used to assess the masticatory muscles in TMD sufferers and has been regarded as an ancillary tool in diagnosing such disorders. This paper aims at showing how important EMG is in diagnosing and caring for TMD sufferers.