Breathing and temporomandibular joint disease

Area of Science:

• Dental Medicine
• Physiology
• Psychology

Background:

• Temporomandibular joint disease (TMD) encompasses pain in masticatory muscles and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
• While occlusal factors are implicated in TMD, no causal link has been established despite extensive research.
• Psychosocial factors are increasingly recognized as significant in TMD assessment and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the underemphasized role of breathing patterns and re-education in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
• To investigate how biomechanical factors, influenced by psychosocial aspects, may contribute to TMJ and associated muscle pathophysiology.
• To highlight breathing and postural rehabilitation as valuable therapeutic additions for TMD care.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on TMD, occlusion, psychosocial factors, and breathing patterns.
• Analysis of potential biomechanical pathways linking psychosocial influences, breathing dysfunction, and TMJ pathology.
• Discussion of breathing re-education and postural rehabilitation as therapeutic interventions.

Main Results:

• The causal link between occlusion and TMD remains unproven.
• Psychosocial factors play a recognized role in TMD.
• Breathing patterns and their disorders offer a potential explanation for TMD development and progression.
• Breathing re-education and postural rehabilitation are effective therapeutic strategies.

Conclusions:

• Breathing pattern disorders may contribute to TMD pathophysiology.
• Integrating breathing re-education and postural rehabilitation provides clinicians with additional effective tools for managing TMD patients.
• A holistic approach addressing biomechanical, psychosocial, and respiratory factors is beneficial for TMD treatment.