Potential causative role of involuntary mouth opening in temporomandibular disorders

Introduction: Bruxism has long been suspected as a cause of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). However, the validity of conventional guidelines and treatment has been discussed since sometime. The association between bruxism and TMDs has recently been questioned, as self-assessments of bruxism are somewhat unreliable, and bruxism appears to have no adverse effects based on histological and physiological findings. The hypothesis: We hypothesize that involuntary mouth opening may play a role in the development of TMDs. Evaluation of the Hypothesis: Recently, some clinical and basic reports have indicated that involuntary mouth opening might be associated with TMDs.