Headaches Attributed to Temporomandibular Disorders

It has been well established that primary headaches (especially migraine, chronic migraine, and tension-type headache) and Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are comorbid diseases with the presence of one of them in a patient increasing the prevalence of the others.Temporomandibular disorders refer to alterations or dysfunction in the masticatory muscles, the Temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and associated structures.Headache, facial pain, and TMD are highly prevalent condition in the general population and may represent a real contemporary health problem.TMD is a likely under diagnosed cause of chronic headache and it seems that it could be responsible for 14% to 26% ofchronic headache.TMD can be readily diagnosed by a careful history and physical examination. Patients typically respond well to conservative therapy, which includes behavioral modification, splint therapy and NSAIDS.TMD should be suspected in individuals with a long-standing history of chronic daily headaches and facial pain without objective evidence of sinus, neurologic, or intracranial abnormalities.Simultaneous therapeutic approach to the two diseases(TMD and headache) is more effective than the separate treatment of each.