FRAGA, Byanka Porto et al. Fibromyalgia and temporomandibular dysfunction: a literature review. RSBO (Online) []. 2011, 8, 1, pp. 89-96. ISSN 1984-5685.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Several studies have associated temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and fibromyalgia (FM) finding a wide variation of results. The aim of this study was to review the literature about the relationship between TMD and FM. LITERATURE REVIEW: For many years, TMD and FM were considered different clinical entities, but recently, some authors have reported that these two clinical situations have similarities. It is important to emphasize that both in FM and TMD pain is the main symptom, including pain in face, mandible, and headache. Besides, these pain syndromes are characterized by a decrease in pain threshold and in the capacity of attenuation of descending systems of pain modulation. The relationship of comorbidity between TMD and FM may indicate, therefore, the existence of some form of central sensitization, which is common to both diseases, sharing neurochemical events. In addition, it was found that the presence of TMD is a common finding in FM patients. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that FM and TMD are distinct clinical entities, although they share common signs and symptoms, especially those related to pain. Furthermore, it was observed that the prevalence of TMD in FM patients is higher than the other way around. It is also important in the diagnosis of these two diseases the differentiation between trigger and tender points, thus avoiding false diagnoses of TMD in FM patients.

: fibromyalgia; temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome; review.