History of treatment received by patients with TMD: a preliminary investigation

A retrospective investigation of 257 patient records from a university-based facial pain center for patients with temporomandibular disorders examined the "natural history" of patients with temporomandibular disorders for consultation and treatment of their complaints. Data were obtained on a variety of demographic variables, referral patterns, types of providers seen for consultation, and the types of diagnostic tests ordered by these providers. Results showed that patients with temporomandibular disorders see more than three providers prior to their referral to a tertiary care center, that a considerable proportion of those providers are physicians, that patients reported undergoing a variety of diagnostic tests, and that patients reported receiving a variety of diagnoses for their condition. Results also showed that patients who initially consulted a physician were somewhat more likely to be referred to another physician, while patients who consulted a dentist were highly likely to be referred to another dentist.