Changes in recurrent headaches and mandibular dysfunction after various types of dental treatment

A follow-up study was performed in 128 patients who had started dental treatment at the Faculty of Odontology in Göteborg one year previously. 58 patients had been referred to the Department of Stomatognathic Physiology for investigation and treatment of mandibular dysfunction (TMJ patients) and 70 patients had come to the clinic for conventional dental treatment (dental patients). In addition to answering a questionnaire, all patients underwent a clinical-functional investigation of the masticatory system. 70% of the TMJ patients who had previously reported headaches stated that their headaches now occurred less often. 42% also stated that the headaches were less severe than previously. Only one TMJ patient stated that he had a headache more often and that it was more painful than previously. In the dental patients improvement and deterioration occurred approximately equally often. A decrease of the clinical dysfunction index was observed in the TMJ patients. There was no change in the dental patients. The prevalence of mandibular dysfunction in the TMJ group, however, was still significantly higher than in the dental patients. The study shows that treatment directed towards functional disturbances of the masticatory system has a beneficial effect on mandibular dysfunction and that many patients who suffer from recurrent headaches experience a reduction of the frequency and severity of their headaches after this treatment.