Intra-oral osteopathic technique for chronic temporomandibular disorders

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) will be experienced by many of the population with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. The management of chronic TMD can be challenging as well as costly. Manual therapies like osteopathy may offer an effective intervention for TMD.

OBJECTIVE: This single system research design aimed to investigate the effectiveness of specific intra-oral osteopathic techniques in improving pain quality, intensity, mouth opening range and disability in TMD.

METHODS: Ten participants (7 female) aged 16 to 43 (mean 29.2 years) with TMD pain from 1–12 years duration (mean 3.23 years) completed this 12-week study. Data was collected bi-weekly over 3-week baseline, 6-week intervention, and 3-week follow up phases.

RESULTS: Improvements from baseline to end of intervention and follow up were noted for McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQSF) sensory pain (pre 10.9±5.98 and post 5.2±6; P< 0.0001), Visual Analogue Scale at rest (VAS-R; 2.9±1.5 and 1.2±1.4; P<0.0001) and mastication (VAS-M; 6.2±1.9 and 2.7±2.5; P<0.00001), and TMD Disability Index (TMDI) scores (11±4.9; P<0.0001). Change in MPQ-SF affective scores reached borderline significance (P<0.08). No significant changes were observed in Maximal Mouth Opening (MMO). Post hoc analyses showed changes occurred early in treatment and were sustained to follow-up for VAS-M, VAS-R, MPQSF, and TMDI.

CONCLUSION: Reduction of self-reported pain quality, intensity and disability from baseline occurred following treatment with intra-oral osteopathic techniques. The results of this preliminary study suggest that the osteopathic management of chronic TMD incorporating intra-oral techniques may be effective.