Long-term status of TMJ clicking in patients with myofascial pain and dysfunction.

This study evaluated the long-term changes in TMJ clicking and general TM disorder symptoms in 190 subjects originally treated by conservative, nonsurgical modalities that were not specifically directed to the problems of TMJ noise or disk derangement. The findings are detailed and support the concept that if the symptoms of pain and dysfunction in patients with clicking can be treated successfully by conservative, nonsurgical modalities, it is generally not necessary to correct the internal derangement with surgery.