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TMD Jaw Pain Study Sheds Light on Pain Disorders

Published: 2011-11-10 - Updated: 2018-01-26
Author: UNC News Services
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Synopsis: New findings about painful jaw problems that plague millions of people worldwide are leading to a better understanding of pain disorders.

New findings about painful jaw problems that plague millions of Americans are leading to a better understanding of pain disorders.

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New findings about painful jaw problems that plague millions of Americans are leading to a better understanding of pain disorders.

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The results, from the first large-scale clinical study of its kind, provide insights into potential causes of temporomandibular joint disorders, known as TMD.

The findings, published in the November issue of the Journal of Pain, should lead to new methods of diagnosing facial pain conditions, predicting who will be susceptible to them and new treatment approaches.

The new results are from the Orofacial Pain Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment study, or OPPERA. Researchers followed 3,200 initially pain-free individuals aged 18 to 44 for three to five years

Temporomandibular joint disorders pain that radiates from the jaw and surrounding muscles, restricting jaw movement and causing considerable suffering. Although the disorders vary in duration and severity, for some people the pain becomes a permanent feature of their lives.

"Previous studies haven't been able to be as conclusive as OPPERA because they've often included fewer participants and didn't follow participants for an extended amount of time," said the study's program director Dr. William Maixner, who is also director of the Center for Neuro-sensory Disorders at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry. "OPPERA is allowing us to study potential biological, psychological and genetic risk factors over a longer period of time, so we will be able to better evaluate the association of these factors with TMD. This novel study will also allow us to learn more about pain disorders in general, and will improve our ability to diagnose and treat chronic pain conditions across the board."

The longitudinal study builds on earlier work by members of the multi-university research team, who designed a broad conceptual model to determine the condition's causes. Maixner said the new findings go far towards validating that model, which was first published in 2006.

"The model, like a compass to a traveler, predicts the route ahead in the development of specific persistent pain disorders," Maixner said. "In this case, we predicted that biological and psychological risk determinants, which are modified by both life history and genetic factors, contribute to the onset and persistence of TMD."

The research team will publish additional findings and insights as they continue to analyze the study data.

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This quality-reviewed article relating to our Oral Health and Hygiene section was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World due to its likely interest to our disability community readers. Though the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or length, the article "TMD Jaw Pain Study Sheds Light on Pain Disorders" was originally written by UNC News Services, and published by Disabled-World.com on 2011-11-10 (Updated: 2018-01-26). Disabled World makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith.

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Cite This Page (APA): UNC News Services. (2011, November 10). TMD Jaw Pain Study Sheds Light on Pain Disorders. Disabled World. Retrieved September 23, 2023 from www.disabled-world.com/health/oral/tmd-pain.php

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