Germain, Lisa, Malcmacher, Louis · Compendium of continuing education in dentistry (Jamesburg, N.J. : 1995) · 2017
This article explains how dentists can help patients with temporomandibular joint (jaw joint) and orofacial pain using straightforward, conservative treatment approaches. The authors note that jaw pain often occurs alongside other pain conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and suggest that dentists with proper training can be a first line of care for these patients.
For ME/CFS patients, this review highlights the high prevalence of comorbid temporomandibular and orofacial pain, suggesting that dental practitioners may play an important role in comprehensive symptom management. Recognition of TMD as a common accompaniment to ME/CFS could improve overall patient care coordination and symptom burden.
This review does not provide evidence that treating TMD improves ME/CFS outcomes, nor does it establish causation between jaw dysfunction and fatigue symptoms. The article does not present clinical trial data or outcome metrics comparing different treatment approaches, so treatment efficacy claims remain conceptual rather than empirically validated.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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