Myomonitor Efficacy and Myofacial Pain

Wessberg Geroge A., Dinham, Richard, DMD.  "The Myo-monitor and the myo-facial pain dysfunction syndrome."  Journal of the Hawaii Dental Association.  vol. 10, No. 2, Aug. 1977.

The Myofacial Pain Dysfunction Syndrome (MPD, TMJ Syndrome, Craniocervical Syndrome) has plagued dentistry for many years. Therapy for this type of pain  has been highly imaginative.  A few of the more common modalities mentioned (Ramfjord  1971) are occlusal adjustment, occlusal bite splints, immobilization of the mandible, drug therapy, placebo, diathermy, physical therapy, sclerosing agents, psychotherapy, and surgery.  Recent studies of mandibular  movement (Jankelson 1976) stress the importance of a "muscularly oriented occlusal position" for the treatment of the MPD Syndrome.

....Jankelson (Jankelson 1976) assumes a compromise in these trends of thought actually exists.  He describes a relatively precise PRPM at any given stage of development that fluctuates within a minimal range of normal as determined by states of equilibrium within the mandibular musculature.

The postural rest position of the mandible (PRPM) is by definition (Academy of Denture Prosthetists, Glossary of Prosthetic Terms, 1956) the mandibular position assumed when the head is in an upright position and the involved muscles, particularly the elevator and depressor groups, are in equilibrium in tonic contraction, and the condyles are in a neutral, unstrained position.

Summary:
Thirty patients presented symptoms with the Myo-facial Pain Dysfunction Syndrome.  All of these patients received Myo-monitor oriented therapy and nearly all of them professed some initial relief or total remission of their symptoms during the short time  span of this study,

The data presented is based largely on clinical observations and patient response to comparison of their symptoms before and after treatment.  Symptoms evaluated were generally related to muscle tenderness and mandibular mobility.
Conclusion:
Due to clinical observations and patient response in this investigation, it is concluded that:

1. The centric occlusion position is seldom coincident with the myo-centric position of occlusion in patients who exhibit symptoms associated with Myofacial Pain Dysfunction Syndrome.
2. A Myo-monitor generated occlusal position affords some relief if not complete remission of symptoms in 90% of cases treated.
3. Long-term follow-up studies are necessary to evalutate the success of treatment.