Active clinical trials for "Temporomandibular Joint Disorders"

It is planned to examine the relationship between quality of life in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction and the patient's individual, physical and psychosocial characteristics.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are the most common orofacial pain disorders of non-dental origin with the prevalence of 6.1-10.2%, and incidence of 3.9%. Observable pathology is mostly absent, and the etiology often remains unknown. Since some other painful conditions of unknown origin (eg. fibromyalgia), also imply genetic factors, the aim of the study is to investigate genetic predisposition in relation to the risk for TMD onset. This will be achieved through analysis of polymorphisms in the selected genes in TMD patients (DC/TMD) and matched control subjects. The possibility of involvement of specific polymorphisms in modulation of therapy response will also be investigated. The hypotheses: (I) the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs) clustering will be dependent on presence or absence of TMD (comparison of patients with control subjects), and will possibly depend on source of pain, pain intensity, presence of bone changes, psychological features and previous orthodontic therapy, and (II) SNPs will influence the treatment response. Along with anamnestic and clinical examination and occlusal splint therapy, genomic DNA will be analyzed from the buccal swabs. Isolated DNA will be used for the determination of 19 polymorphisms of selected genes using Real-Time PCR method. The analysis of salivary oxidative stress markers and opiorphin will be also performed, as their relationship with TMD has been shown previously. This time, their concentration will be associated with polymorphisms in the promoters of genes responsible for their synthesis. The investigators expect to show that particular gene profile or group of SNPs represent a risk factor for TMD development. Innovative approach of the concept of determining the genetic predisposition for TMD has the potential for development of commercial genetic test with potential for risk estimation in relation to TMD onset. This could enable early interventions and active avoidance of environmental risk factors.

According to our previous research and clinical observation results, the motor function of the oral, maxillofacial and cervical body is closely related to the occlusal contact. Not only that, the occlusal contact also affects the psychological activities related to movement. There are many technical means to evaluate the occlusion clinically. However, the occlusion is a complex motor organ with more than 3 dimensional (including age factors) morphological characteristics, which makes the occlusion have obvious individualized characteristics. It is of great significance to objectively evaluate oral health to accurately extract occlusal contact features, analyze the relationship between occlusion and the motor function of oral, maxillofacial, neck and body as well as the corresponding psychological characteristics, and establish an evaluation method of occlusal function for evaluating motor function and psychological characteristics.

RATIONALE OF THE OBSERVATION STUDY: This study aims to observe which patients with temporomandibular disorder improve more following a physiotherapy program of four sessions. Knowing the characteristics of patients who have the most significant improvements could help clinician advise or advise against physiotherapy for the treatment of temporomandibular disorders. STUDY PROCEDURES The study will be conducted at the Istituto Stomatologico Italiano. Patients diagnosed with Temporomandibular Disorder will be recruited in the gnathological and neuromuscular gnathological departments. The physiotherapists of the Craniomandibular Physiotherapy Service will perform physiotherapy therapy, which consists of four physiotherapy sessions [lasting 30 minutes, about once a week] over a month. Before starting the treatment, participants will be asked to answer some questions concerning their state of health (e.g. pain intensity) with particular reference to Temporomandibular Disorder (e.g. location and duration of pain). The intensity of pain and the level of function will then be monitored at baseline, after 4 weeks and after 8 weeks from baseline. EXPECTED BENEFITS FROM THE STUDY AND EXPECTED BENEFITS FOR THE PATIENT The benefits are the discovery of new knowledge in the field of therapeutic choice for patients with temporomandibular disorder.

This study addresses the timely problem of painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD), the most common cause of orofacial pain second only to tooth pain. Findings from previous studies suggest that dysregulation of connectivity within specific brain circuits is part of chronic pain pathophysiology. This study will identify connectivity patterns within those brain circuits as potential signatures for pain- related disability in chronic TMD pain participants. New knowledge regarding these brain connectivity patterns is expected to be significant because it will support improved phenotyping of this heterogeneous participant population. It is also expected that this finding can potentially be extrapolated to other chronic pain conditions, such as back pain, migraine headache, and fibromyalgia that are frequently comorbid conditions in chronic TMD participants.

The aim of study is to translate and culturally adapt Fonseca Anamnestic Index into Urdu language and to investigate the reliability and validity in Pakistani population over the age 18 years.

To determine effectiveness of massage versus massage with post isometric relaxation exercises in temporomandibular disorders for pain and limited joint mobility.

The purpose of this study is to characterize the course of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain in adults with TMD and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), all of whom are being treated with mandibular advancement splint (MAS) therapy. Study participants are 12 adults with painful TMD and comorbid mild to moderate OSA (apnea-hypopnea index ≥5 and <30). This is an interventional study in which 12 patients receive MAS therapy for comorbid TMD/OSA for 16 weeks. It is standard of care to treat mild or moderate OSA with MAS therapy, the the effect on MAS therapy on TMD pain in people with OSA is unknown. There is no comparison group. Care is being provided under the direction of a sleep physician by a dentist who specializes in dental sleep medicine. The investigators expect that as MAS therapy reduces the severity of OSA, painful TMD symptoms will also reduce.

The investigators propose to conduct a randomized blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with chronic TMD (N=20). Patients will be randomly assigned to receive either active treatment (caloric vestibular neurostimulation) or placebo. Data will be collected prior to and after treatment on thermal and mechanical pain thresholds, clinical signs and symptoms of TMD, and any adverse events.

In this study, this team of researchers will investigate the impact of chronic temporomandibular disorder suffering on the endogenous μ-opioid system in vivo, arguably one of the principal endogenous pain modulatory systems in the brain, and its modulation by 10 daily sessions of primary motor cortex stimulation using high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS).