PURPOSE: to check the habitual tongue and lips rest position in subjects with Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD), and to analyze their pain complaint in masticatory muscles. METHODS: 44 subjects, of both genders and mean age of 42.52 years were evaluated. Three evaluations were carried out: visual clinical examination as for tongue habitual rest position, pain complains using visual analogical scale (VAS) and bilateral masticatory muscle palpation assessing pain intensity. RESULTS: 23 subjects (52.27%) showed the tongue at the palatine papilla and 21 (47.73%) showed in different position than the elevated. The subjects who showed the tongue against the palatine papilla, referred pain during the palpation of Masseters (73.91%), Cervical muscles (56.52%), Temporals (43.48%), Digastrics muscles (39.13%) and in the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) region (52.17%). Statistically significant correlations were found among pain complains (VAS) and palpation pain intensity concerning: Cervical Muscles (p=0.026), Temporals (p=0.019), Digastrics (p=0.005) and TMJ region (p=0.013). The sample demonstrated components comprising 88,63% of masticatory muscle pain and 56.81% complained pain in the Temporomandibular Joint region. CONCLUSION: the non-elevated position of the tongue was not confirmed in TMD subjects, with no correlation between pain and tongue rest position. We observed closed lips rest position and predominance of mialgic pain instead of arthralgic pain.
Tong; Facial Pain; Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome
