What headaches are associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)
TMDs include musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions that involve the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), the masticatory muscles, and all associated tissues.
A painful TMD may occur in 10% of the population.
Other signs or symptoms of TMD such as clicking, limited range of motion, and pain on joint function have been reported in 46% of the US population.
The pain associated with TMD is frequently of muscular origin and the symptoms are often self-limiting.
The pain is typically ipsilateral when arising from the TMJ or may be bilateral when muscular.
The headache may be exacerbated by either jaw movement or pressure applied to the TMJ or surrounding musculature.
Sleep bruxism, which occurs in up to 31% of the population, may exacerbate TMD and/or headache symptoms, but a causal relationship is not evident.
Those with asymptomatic clicking often do not require treatment.
Therapy is indicated if pain, signification limitation in mandibular range of motion, or both are present.
