Oral and maxillofacial surgeryComparison of joint pain in patients diagnosed with and without articular disc displacement without reduction based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders

ObjectiveWe compared joint pain (JP) in patients diagnosed with and without articular disc displacement without reduction (ADD) based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) and identified the characteristics of each JP.Study DesignFifty-eight patients with restricted mouth opening and pain in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and with a magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis of ADD were selected. Diagnosis of ADD + JP and nonADD + JP was made with the use of the RDC/TMD.ResultsA multiple regression analysis of the data disclosed a positive correlation between range of motion on maximum assisted mouth opening and visual analog scale (VAS) (severity of JP) in the ADD + JP group, and between chronic pain grade (CPG) and VAS in the nonADD + JP group. A significant difference was observed between ADD + JP and nonADD + JP groups in CPG; CPG was higher in the nonADD + JP than in the ADD + JP group.ConclusionsIt is suggested that JP related and unrelated to ADD can indicate different types of disease.