Facial asymmetry: recognition of TMD

For many years researchers and clinicians have been aware of the varying presenting signs and symptoms common in the TMD patient. The symptom-complex frequently includes preauricular pain; cephalgia (predominantly frontal, temporal, occipital, vertex, retro- and periorbital); cervicalgia (immobility/stiffness); otalgia (congestion, vertigo, tinnitus). The most prominent signs are those of joint sounds (popping, click and crepitus due to disc displacement with reduction and/or osseous breakdown); restricted mandibular excursion (disc displacement without reduction); and mandibular deviation/deflection (disc(s) displacement).