The mandibular joint: internal rearrangement.

Mandibular joint disorders have always aroused a great deal of controversy as to their nature, aetiology and treatment. Over the last decade, with the advent of sophisticated techniques for functional investigation, a measure of agreement has been reached among researchers and clinicians dealing with the problem. However there seems to have been an unfortunate spin-off in that there may be a tendency to overinvestigate, overcomplicate and overtreat the situation. Perhaps it is possible to regard the common disorders (pain-dysfunction, derangement, osteoarthrosis) as a single pathological entity, a traumatic condition, with associated degenerative factors. Arguments and evidence supporting this view are presented. It is suggested that there may be a common factor that explains the many and varied management regimes, and that is internal rearrangement of the mandibular joint.