Oral Surgery · single question
A patient returns 5 months after being given a hard occlusal splint. Now has muscle pain in the face, limited opening of 15mm, jaw pain on opening, and TMJ clicking. What is the next step?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Refer to oral radiologist for imaging studies
✓ A) Refer to oral radiologist for imaging studies is correct.
The patient's symptoms have worsened significantly (15mm opening = severe trismus, new clicking = possible disc displacement). Before any further treatment, imaging is essential to diagnose the current TMJ status: MRI (gold standard for soft tissue/disc position), CBCT (for osseous changes), or cone beam. Adjusting the splint blindly without imaging could worsen the condition. An oral and maxillofacial radiologist interprets these images in the context of TMJ pathology. Proper diagnosis precedes treatment modification.
The patient's symptoms have worsened significantly (15mm opening = severe trismus, new clicking = possible disc displacement). Before any further treatment, imaging is essential to diagnose the current TMJ status: MRI (gold standard for soft tissue/disc position), CBCT (for osseous changes), or cone beam. Adjusting the splint blindly without imaging could worsen the condition. An oral and maxillofacial radiologist interprets these images in the context of TMJ pathology. Proper diagnosis precedes treatment modification.