Accurately diagnosing and treating temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can be a difficult and confusing task. This is often true primarily because patients' symptoms do not always fit into the classification. In many instances several classifications seem to be appropriate because in reality the patient is suffering from more than one disorder. In many patients, one disorder contributes to another. It is appropriate therefore, when more than one disorder appears to be present that an attempt be made distinguish the primary from the secondary disorder. The interrelationship of the various TMD always needs to be considered in the evaluation and treatment of patients. Sometimes it is nearly impossible to identify which disorder preceded which. Often the evidence to determine such an order can be obtained only from a thorough history.
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