[Dissertations 25 years after date 45. Prevalence and etiology of craniomandibular dysfunction in the Netherlands]

The disorders temporomandibular dysfunction and craniomandibular dysfunction are still being discussed intensely in the literature 25 year after the publication of the dissertation 'Prevalence and etiology of craniomandibular dysfunction. An epidemiological study of the Dutch adult population'. Attention is especially being devoted to occlusion and its relationship with this disorder; the conclusions reached are often contradictory. In addition to the definitions of temporomandibular and craniomandibular dysfunction and of occlusion, a possible explanation for this controversy can be found in the methodological shortcomings of the studies. On the basis of the most important results in the dissertation of 25 years ago and the scientific discussion since, 7 guidelines are formulated that are illustrated with clinical examples for an evidence-based treatment of patients with this disorder in a general dental practice.