The result of treatment of the masticatory system of chronic headache patients.

Fifty-five of 100 chronic headache patients, referred consecutively to a neurologist, exhibited craniomandibular pain during examination of the stomatognathic system. This suggests a possible relationship between the headaches and the condition of the masticatory muscles. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. One group was treated by a neurologist and the other by a dentist. More of the patients treated by the dentist reported a decreased intensity of the headache (P less than 0.025) or a reduction in medication (P less than 0.05). Changes in headache frequency were also reported more often in the craniomandibular disorder treatment group (P less than 0.025).