Questionnaire evaluation of craniomandibular pain factors among college students.

AbstractIt has been suggested that a major portion of the controversy that exists regarding temporomandibular joint dysfunction and myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome may well be rooted in their disjunctive classification system. This study represents an initial step in determining the validity of that suggestion. It evaluates the correlations of TMJ pain, jaw muscle pain, or a combination of these to a number of oral habits, other symptoms of TMJ dysfunction/MPD syndromes, and other physical complaints. The results indicate that each pain location was differentially associated with various oral habits, other symptoms, and physical complaints. It is of particular interest that the study failed to find any association between facial pain and nocturnal bruxism. The article also points out the need for future facial pain studies to use homogeneous subject populations in relation to specific symptom characteristics.