BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pain referred to the teeth occurs frequently in the orofacial region and constitutes a diagnostic challenge for the dental practitioner. The goals of this study were to analyze the frequency of muscle pain referred to the teeth and the frequency of teeth affected more frequently. METHOD: Complete clinical charts of 258 CMD subjects referred consecutively during an eight-year period were assessed. Data were obtained based on the chief complaint, history of signs and symptoms, pain description, muscle palpation and criteria for CMD, bruxism and muscle pain referred to the teeth. RESULTS: The frequency of pain referred to the teeth was about 19.4% in the CMD group and 7.5% in the control group (p = 0.11). The frequency of pain referred to the teeth increased in the CMD group with moderate bruxism to the intense and extreme groups (p = 0.47, p = 0.18), but the differences were not significant. Pain referred to the teeth was more frequent in the upper arch (18.2%) than in the lower (12.4%) and in the upper and lower molars than in other groups of teeth. Thirty three individuals reported a total of 94 upper teeth with pain and 24 subjects, 79 lower teeth with pain (p = 0.85). CONCLUSION: Muscle pain referred to the teeth occur frequently in CMD individuals. Upper teeth and the molars group presented pain more frequently than other groups of teeth. The frequency of muscle pain referred to the teeth was higher in intense and extreme bruxers and such pain is a common cause of tooth pain of non-dental origin.
Odontalgia; Referred pain; Temporomandibular joint; Toothache
