Temporomandibular Joint Pain Presentation of Myocardial Ischemia

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide. We report a case of myocardial infarction for which temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain was the sole presenting initial symptom. A 28-year-old man presented to a dental clinic reporting TMJ pain. He was an active duty infantry solider in the US Army who was otherwise healthy and in excellent physical condition. He reported a 3-week history of intense throbbing to his left TMJ, specifically during physical activities and weight lifting. On examination by his general dentist, his blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature were unremarkable. His maximal incisal opening was more than 45 mm without pain and demonstrated deviation, crepitus, and a full range of excursive movements without restrictions or provocation of pain. A hard night guard appliance was fabricated, and muscular physical therapy instructions were given, because his symptoms were thought to be related to muscle-related pain, possibly related to bruxism. He was referred to the oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) department for further evaluation and a second opinion. Before his appointment, he collapsed during physical training in cardiac arrest. He was brought to the emergency department and successfully resuscitated. He was found to have an 80% occlusion of his left anterior descending artery that was treated with a 1-vessel coronary artery bypass graft. After his cardiac surgery, he was seen and evaluated by OMS, and his TMJ symptoms had completely resolved. During the differential diagnosis of orofacial pain, clinicians should consider nonfacial sources of pain, especially referred cardiac pain that can mimic TMJ, odontogenic, and myofascial pain.