Orofacial Pain: Understanding Temporomandibular (TMJ) Disorders.

Three well-known health care professionals in the field of dentistry collaborated on this book in the hopes that it would meet the needs of people who have or think they might have a temporomandibular disorder. The information in the book serves the three purposes of education about this disorder, self-care techniques, and direction for the types of services available if self-care does not solve the problems encountered.

The strength of the book lies in its clear, organized information and its large illustrations, especially those of the bones, joints, and muscles of the temporomandibular joint area. In addition to dental care, physical therapy is put forth as one of the treatments of choice. Although some pertinent exercises are given and illustrated, the authors give very few posture exercises. The role of stress in triggering or increasing temporomandibular pain is covered, with an emphasis placed on surface electromyography used as a biofeedback tool concerning facial muscles and their activity.

This is an excellent patient-information book on orofacial pain that may be used by any health care professional as a thorough source for his or her patients.

In the current climate of health care, the more educated the consumers, the quicker they obtain the appropriate care and the more responsibility they take for home programs. Orofacial Pain should be one of the books used to help the public understand this very prevalent disorder.

Mary Lee Bergeron, PT The Therapy Center Knoxville, Tenn

Ms Bergeron is the director of quality assurance at The Therapy Center, were she oversees both physical therapists and occupational therapists. She also conducts the use of surface electromyography for pain management.