Thermography Applications in the Assessment and Treatment of the Temporomandibular Disorders

The thermography is an easy-to-use, a para-clinical investigation method without irradiation which completes clinical and functional diagnosis and consists of measuring the heat emanating from certain areas of the body with a device, consisting of a sensor that detects infrared radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum. The temporomandibular disorders (TMD) concern the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), the masticatory muscles and the neck muscles. The facial temperature can be easily measured in sitting position, static and dynamic, and provides images of affected facial areas measured and stored in less than 3 minutes. The pain intensity, on VAS (the pain scale values) represented by the onset of the study ranged on the scale, from 3-9 (where 9, is the value for the worst pain and) with an average of 5.48. At the second assessment, after 3 months, the VAS values decreased in all subjects, ranging from 1-7, the average of the batch being 3.65. After 6 months the average of the batch dropped to 1.28. As the intensity of pain decreases, a thermographic decrease in the local temperature also occurs. The thermograms performed over time can give us important information about the correctness and efficiency of the applied therapeutic methods.