Craniomandibular disorders and headaches

Three hundred patients were questioned regarding frequency of headache pain. One hundred forty-one patients were seeking treatment at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry TMJ Clinic for CMD. A comparison group of 159 was selected from persons being screened for routine dental needs. The following findings regarding incidence and frequency of headache pain were observed: 1. The incidence of headache pain was twice as high in the CMD group than in the comparison group (p less than .001). 2. Of the persons in each group reporting the occurrence of headaches, the frequency of headaches in the CMD group was significantly higher (44%) than in the comparison group (p less than .001). Thirty-three patients with headache pain were treated for a 4-week period with occlusal splint therapy. Patients were questioned regarding the number of headaches per week they had before and after occlusal splint therapy. The following results were observed: 1. Twenty-one (63.6%) patients showed a decrease in the frequency of their headaches. 2. Ten (30.3%) patients showed complete remission of headaches. 3. No patient showed an increase in the frequency of headaches. 4. As a group the average number of headaches per week before treatment was 5.06; after occlusal splint therapy the average number of headaches per week was 2.15 (p less than .001).