Introduction: Arthrocentesis has been used in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) to analyze components of the synovial fluid or as a therapeutic procedure associated or not with the admini- stration of a drug. The rabbit is one of the most commonly used animal species as a model for pathologies that affect the TMJ. The aim of this study was to propose a specific technique to perform arthrocentesis on the rabbit TMJ, emphasizing descriptions of reference points and measurements for a successful puncture without complications. Materials and methods: Fourteen adult rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were used. The project was approved by the Scientific Ethics Committee of the Universidad de La Frontera (File Nº083/2016). Results: The description of the technique was divided into three steps: 1) Location of the rabbit TMJ, 2) Positioning of the needles in the TMJ, and 3) Passage of fluid through the TMJ. Conclusions: This arthrocen- tesis technique could help to simplify the procedure and give the investigator a guide for joint washing and extraction of synovial fluid in the rabbit TMJ.

Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are the second most common cause of chronic pain in the human musculoskeletal system. The triad of symptoms of TMD includes: pain within the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), limitation of its mobility and crepitations. The aim of the study was to present the methods of physiotherapy and to assess its effectiveness in patients with hypomobility of temporomandibular joints.

Material and Methods: 44 patients (40.2 ± 10.6 years) were examined for signs of TMD using the Manual Functional Analysis of masticatory system (MFA) questionnaire due to DC/TMD. In the above group, 20 patients showed hypomobility of TMJs and myofascial pain. They underwent a 3-week phy-siotherapy consisting of manual therapy and exercises. In the study group, linear measurements of TMJs mobility and palpation of selected masticatory muscles were performed. Pain was assessed before and after 3 weeks of therapy according to Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Statistical processing of the data was done with STATISTICA 13 and was conducted considering significance at a p-value <0.05.

Results: Significant improvement in TMJ’s mobility, which increased on average by 6.6 mm (p = 0.0005) and reducing of pain, a decrease of 3 points on average on the NRS Scale (p = 0.00002) were achieved.

Conclusions: The applied physiotherapy algorithm, including manual therapy and exercises of mas-ticatory muscles, is effective in the case of improvement TMJ’s range of motion and reduction of pain in patients with hypomobility of TMJ’s.

Significant impact factor and psycho-emotional stress in the etiology of dysfunction indicate the need of the routine approach in the treatment of patients with temporomandibular joint disorders to be changed. The aim of the study was to obtain data, documented test results as to the efficiency of progressive muscle relaxation in the treatment of pain caused by temporomandibular joint disorders, as a supplement to previous methods using occlusal splint and other physical therapies. The study included 100 patients of both sexes, aged from 20 to 35 years who were diagnosed with pain due to temporomandibular joint disorders accompanied with high muscle tension of musticatory muscles which were treatment by relaxation therapy. All patients underwent physical examination, specialized functional examination of the masticatory system in accordance with the Polish version of the study RDC/TMD (The Research Diagnostic Criteria of Temporomandibular Disorders, Axis I — physical assessment, Axis II — assessment of psychosocial status and pain — related disability) and assessment of psycho emotional factor and stress, based on the survey developed for their own purpose. The results of the research were obtained using specialized statistical package “R” i386 3.2.3. The results of examinations aft er relaxation therapy showed a signifi cant reduction in the intensity of myofascial pain in all patients. Progressive muscle relaxation can be successfully used as an supportive therapy treatment of patient with dysfunction.

This article characterizes the etiology of temporomandibular disorder with particular emphasis on emotional factors that have a major impact on the development of these dysfunctions and the most common their symptoms. They mainly affect people in the third and fourth decade of life and women predominate among this group of patients.
The article analyzes the current literature (Pub Med Database, Scopus and EMBASE) in relation to the conditions in the work environment, which often constitute important causes of emotional tensions, constant state of mental tension and susceptibility to the effects of stressors, which have an impact on the state of functioning of the musculoskeletal system of the masticatory system.
Despite the high frequency of temporomandibular disorders, unfortunately only a few studies describe the influence of harmful factors related to the work environment, and own experience (information from the patient’s interview) and data from the literature indicate a significant share of these factors in the devel-opment of temporomandibular disorder. The relationships and anatomical connections affecting the influence of stressors on the functioning of masticatory muscles and temporomandibular joints are also discussed. In conclusion, it should be stated that the work environment and the emotional tensions generated in it constitute a serious sociological problem and increase the risk of developing and intensify the symptoms of TMD.

The prevalence of TMD indicates a need to develop new tools that are useful in the case of screening examinations. These methods can support diagnosis at the early stage of the disorder. The purpose of this research was to develop a comprehensive tool that would function as both a database of sounds generated by TMJ and as software which facilitates automated diagnosis. The software would also use the data from the RDC/TMD questionnaire. Such a tool may significantly reduce the time spent by dentists on making manual RDC/TMD diagnoses. Moreover, this solution would enable dentists who do not specialise in TMD to make effective diagnoses. 95 patient took part in the clinical examination: 30 man and 65 females. The mean age of the participants was 33 years. Patients participating in the clinical process were examined according to the Polish version of the RDC/TMD questionnaire (Axis I and Axis II). Subsequently, all subjects were auscultated with an electronic stethoscope. An application has been im-plemented based on the RDC/TMD diagnostic flow chart. This tool was used for the automated generation of RDC/TMD diagnoses for all patients. As a result of the kind permission and participation of the patients under examination, it was possible to store records of ninety-five people. Each record contains RDC/TMD questionnaire data, auscultation signals and RDC/TMD diagnoses. For the first time, a database was created that has the potential to facilitate further examination. However, the developed system is universal and can therefore be adapted to new DC/TMD criteria.

TMD is a disease within the masticatory system that increases its reach among the society every year in the third and fourth decade of life. The etiology of TMD is complex and it is often difficult to establish the cause in a specific case. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of TMD on pathomorphological changes within the temporomandibular joints, evaluated in USG examinations and evaluation the assessment of differences in the number of pathological changes between various forms of TMD.
Material and Methods: The study material included a group of 386 patients, both sexes, aged 20 to 46 years, who came for prosthetic treatment due to symptoms of TMD. Ultrasound examination of the temporomandibular joints supplemented the clinical diagnosis of TMD in all the subjects. Axis I of the DC/TMD were used.
Results: Group I included 116 women and 89 men, group II consisted of 102 women and 79 men. Pathological morphological changes in the temporomandibular joints were found in all the examined patients. The changes in soft tissue structures were significantly increased in group II, but numerous pathomorphological changes were also present in the group of patients with the muscle form of TMD.
Conclusion: The results of the conducted studies with the use of USG temporomandibular joints revealed numerous pathomorphological changes within the temporomandibular joints. This indicates the usefulness of the USG examination in additional diagnostic tests in the group of patients with TMD.