Disfunçäo da articulaçäo temporomandibular (ATM)

The authors report the treatment of TMJ dysfunction in 656 consecutive patients, using simple relative TMJ rest, with immediate cures in more than 80 (per cent) of the patients. The anatomophysiology of the TMJ and mainly the pain mechanism are discussed. The authors studied the occurrence of TMJ dysfuntion without pain in the population and observed that treatments is not necessary in 35 (per cent) of the cases. More severe cases require surgery 4 (per cent). The major steps of surgical treatment and final results are described.