Habit reversal treatment of temporomandibular disorders: a pilot investigation.

This study evaluated the use of behavior therapy to reduce teeth clenching and grinding as a treatment for temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Habit reversal was used to treat three adults with TMD using a multiple baseline across subjects design. The results indicated significant improvement for two of the three subjects including decreased self-reported pain, decreased pain upon muscle palpation, and increased maximum mandibular opening. However, temporomandibular joint sounds were increased. Habit reversal appears to be more effective in reducing the myofascial pain symptoms of TMD than in improving temporomandibular joint functioning.