Occlusal analysis and management of a patient with headache and temporomandibular joint sound: A case report

Abstract

Although headaches attributed to masticatory myofascial pain have been reported, to our knowledge, the treatment of headache with occlusal position correcting therapy has not been reported. Occlusal improvement was achieved using the occlusal position correcting therapy in a patient with headache and temporomandibular joint sound. Occlusal analysis was performed by mounting the dental models on an articulator and identifying a premature occlusal contact on the right first premolars and a deviation of the habitual occlusal position from the muscular reference position. Occlusal modification was performed to coincide the habitual occlusal position with the muscular reference position. After the completion of occlusal equilibration, the chronic headache immediately became an episodic headache, and after the fourth month, the headache almost disappeared. The headache was believed to be caused by myofascial pain of the lateral and medial pterygoid muscles produced with the occlusal discrepancy between the habitual occlusal position and the muscular position. The headache was considered a referred pain from both the lateral and medial pterygoid muscles.