Self-care, education, and awareness of the patient with temporomandibular disorder: a systematic review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Temporomandibular disorder consists of a variety of conditions associated with pain and dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint, masticatory muscles and associated structures. Self-care clinical protocols are commonly used as initial therapy for temporomandibular disorder patients after diagnosis as a conservative and non-invasive approach. This review aimed to study the self-care techniques in the literature and its efficacy. CONTENTS: This was a systematic review of the literature, with a survey in the databases Science Direct and Pubmed, in addition to the gray literature, Google Scholar. The following descriptors were used: “self-care”, “temporomandibular dysfunction” and “counseling”. Articles in English and Portuguese published between 2010 and 2018 were included. Twenty-one articles were selected based on a series of inclusion and exclusion criteria. CONCLUSION: There are two main objectives in the treatment of temporomandibular disorder patients, the reduction of pain and improvement of function. It was concluded that self-care therapies are effective in achieving these goals, in addition to being low-tech and non-invasive. Patients who actively participate in their healing process present faster improvements, by altering their general perception of pain.


INTRODUCTION
Self-management clinical protocols are commonly used as initial treatment for patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD), after adequate diagnosis, as a conservative and non-invasive approach 1 . They should be simple enough to allow the patient's control over the execution and enable healing and/or prevention of more injuries to the musculoskeletal system. The main objectives of any treatment for chronic pain consist in reducing pain and improving quality of life 2 . The variety of self-care techniques include education; jaw exercises (such as stretching and relaxation); massage; thermal therapy; dietary advice and nutrition; and parafunctional behavior identification, monitoring, and avoidance 1 . It is important for the professional to acknowledge such techniques because the adoption of a self-care protocol may be sufficient therapy for the adaptive and motivated patients, or it may be an essential part of a more complex and multidisciplinary treatment plan 3 . The objectives of this present study were to systematically review the literature about the efficacy and applicability of self-management therapies to TMD patients, as well as orientations, education, and awareness of these patients, and to propose a clinical protocol.

CONTENTS
The included articles in this review were those concerning conservative and self-care therapies for the treatment of TMD patients. A period filter was applied to only select articles published between 2010 and 2018. There was also a filter for language and articles were accepted only in English and Portuguese. Furthermore, the following exclusion criteria were applied: 1) Irreversible or more invasive treatments; 2) Pharmacotherapy; 3) Studies with children; and 4) Studies with patients with special needs.
Searches were performed in two databases: 1. Science Direct; 2. Pubmed; and the gray literature, Google Scholar. The last electronic database search was performed on February 27 th , 2017. The selected keywords were: I. Self-management, II. Temporomandibular disorders, and III. Counseling. The first search included only self-management (I); followed by temporomandibular disorders (II) alone. The searched combinations were: self-management and temporomandibular disorders (I and II); and self-management, temporomandibular disorders and counseling (I, II and III). The elected search was the one that joined the keywords: self-management, temporomandibular disorders and counseling (I, II and III), with 209 results. From the elected survey, these articles were pooled for a series of inclusion and exclusion steps, as shown in figure 1. The research presented many results not related specifically to the theme, so the first step aimed to reduce the total number of articles. First exclusion step consisted of reading the titles, and the unrelated  Fourth step of exclusion: The abstract of the remaining articles were read, selecting the ones that best fit the theme. Inclusion criteria: 1) Conservative therapies 2) Self-care therapies Total of articles included n=21 Martins-Júnior et al. 9 Conti et al. 16 Craane et al. 17 Kress et al. 7 Miles et al. 6 Miernik and Więckiewicz 21 Ommerborn et al. 14 Mukherjee, Sen and Sinha 12 Conti, Corrêa and Lauris 10 Peters et al. 11 Heiskanen, Roine and Kalso 5 Durham et al. 1 Michelotti et al. 15 Giro et al. 13 Brantingham et al. 23 Martins, Aquino and Meloto 4 Freitas et al. 20 Vernooij, Willson and Gagliardi 22 Campi et al. 19 Bouchard et al. 18 Schiffman et al. 8

PUBMED (n=10)
Google Scholar (n=91) ones were excluded. The second step was the pdf download of the results, selecting only those that were available at the Federal University of Paraná database. The third step consisted of removing the duplicate articles from the three databases. As a fourth and final step, the abstracts of the 33 remaining articles were read, and those concerning conservative and self-care therapies were selected, reaching a total of 21 articles.

DISCUSSION
The scope of this systematic review was to synthesize the literature regarding conservative therapies and self-management guidelines, aiming at a biopsychosocial approach in the treatment of TMD patients. TMD treatment is not standardized due to the different etiologies and distinct structures that might be affected 4 . However, the indication of self-care protocols, in addition to education and awareness of the patient's own dysfunction, are powerful tools to relieve symptoms. Self-care new habits may be all that is required for those patients that are adaptive and self-motivated, and/or it also may be part of a more complex multi-modal treatment plan 1 . According to Heiskanen, Roine e Kalso 5 health-related quality of life of chronic pain patients improved during a multi-disciplinary treatment, whereas the factors explaining poor response were not treatment-related, such as occupation and degree of education. The main factors that might influence the outcome of a selfcare program are self-efficacy, depression, pain catastrophizing and physical activity 6 . These programs rely on a therapeutic alliance between clinician and patient, which requires patient cooperation and clinician commitment, such as monitoring and constant evaluation of the dysfunction's progression, in order to readapt the therapeutic alternatives 1 . Other important measures include chronic pain being recognized as a disease and the adoption of a patient-centered and personalized treatment approach 7 . Schiffman et al. 8 compared four therapeutic approaches for the temporomandibular joint closed lock (two of them non-invasive, and the other two invasives), and found that there was no clinically significant difference. Therefore, educating and providing the patient with self-care techniques is the proper strategy for initial care. It empowers the patient to know that they have the innate ability to heal -and the clinician's engagement, training them to do so, is a great facilitating factor 1 . The conservative therapy for TMD success rate can reach values above 90 percent, so there is no need for invasive, irreversible and high-tech treatments for most of the patients 9 . Conti, Corrêa and Lauris 10 found that all management strategies were effective in reducing the reported pain intensity, but patients improved faster when wearing occlusal devices associated with counseling and behavior changes. It is unlikely that self-care acts as a unique therapeutic strategy, however, this kind of self-regulatory behavior influences the overall pain perception 1 .
The highest evidence of benefit in the treatment of a TMD patient points out to psychological interventions, more specifically cognitive behavioral therapy -especially when associated with biofeedback, reducing pain intensity, activity interference, and depression levels 11 . Orientations from the revised literature are shown in table 1.
Based on that, a proposed self-management clinical protocol is shown in table 2. The intention is to distribute these orientations to TMD patients.  1 Diagnosis and "optimistic counseling" (reassurance that TMD is typically benign and self-limiting in the clear majority of cases). Education should also include TMD's biopsychosocial etiology; cautions against invasive and irreversible treatments; sleep practices; sensible and time-limited use of analgesia; avoidance of OTC splints bought without consultation with the dentist; caffeine usage; anatomy and usual function of TMJ complex and associated musculature.
Michelotti et al. 15 Patients that receive extensive information and considerable patient-doctor interaction present faster improvement. Therefore, the psychophysiological mechanisms associated with education and reassurance reveal positive effects. The improvement is mediated, however, by each patient's coping skills, mood and emotional state.
Conti et al. 16 Education is slightly more effective than only an occlusal appliance in treating spontaneous muscle pain.
Freitas et al. 20 Treatment modalities should include counseling and education for self-care and self-regulation, such as an explanation concerning the role of pain, possible etiological factors of the patient's TMD, the relationship between chronic pain and psychosocial distress, and its benign character. A list of recommendations can be given to patients: -Encouragement of patients to rest their masticatory muscles; -Observation and reduction in parafunctional habits; -Avoidance of excessive mandibular movements; -Maintenance of soft diet and recommendation to chew carefully; -Performance of simultaneous bilateral mastication; -Improvement of posture and sleep onset. However, education should be associated with posture training and physical therapy programmes, since counseling and self-management-based therapies provide better results when they are not used alone. Also, although it represents a conservative low-cost and beneficial treatment for the relief of signs and symptoms by improving psychological domains and potentially reducing harmful behaviors, the evidence remains unclear due to the reduced number of controlled and randomized well-designed clinical trials. As the natural course of the closed lock is self-limiting, some authors recommend just education and counseling. It is important to explain the mechanism of disc displacement and the negative effects of parafunctions on the stomatognathic system, especially the TMJ.

Vernooij, Willson and Gagliardi 22
Single or multifaceted educational interventions may reinforce general information about the condition and lifestyle advice and contribute to positive outcomes. Information and evidence about the condition, prognosis, what to expect, and its management. Information and advice on how to undertake generic activities such as hygiene, dressing, preparing meals, transportation. Information and guidance on lifestyle behaviors that support disease management.
Craane et al. 17 The study showed that improvement was purely based on the education of the patients, which includes informing and explaining the presumed etiology, the good prognosis of this benign disorder and reassuring the patient regarding this problem.
Self-exercise Durham et al. 1 Jaw (muscle) exercises, relaxation and posture training. Can be implemented by the clinician or by referral to other health care professions, such as physical or occupational therapists.
Craane et al. 17 Exhibits significant improvement over time for pain and impairment. However, there is no evidence of the clinically important benefit of a single physical therapeutic modality, while combinations of physical therapeutic modalities seem to be more effective than a single one.
Bouchard et al. 18 For the treatment of non-reducing discs, institute a home exercise program performed for jaw muscle and range of motion.
Campi et al. 19 Stretching, stabilization, coordination and mobilization exercises. Although these treatments are effective to decrease pain and improve dysfunction associated with TMD, there is still a lack of studies defining effectiveness parameters.
Thermal modalities Durham et al. 1 Use of heat and /or ice to areas of pain.
de Freitas et al. 20 Apply heat or cold to the most painful masticatory areas.

Miernik and Więckiewicz 21
For the closed lock, the recommended self-care protocol might include thermotherapy (cold or warm packs) in the initial period of locking.
Giro et al. 13 Thermotherapy to promote pain relief, improve muscle tone, and relax mandibular muscles. Patients should be advised to place moist heat pads on the painful muscle for 15 minutes, 3 times per day.
Diet and nutrition Durham et al. 1 Clinicians should implement a "pain-free diet", as opposed to a "soft diet", for a two-week period. After that, a new review determines whether the individual advances as tolerated to firmer and chewier consistency foods.
Schiffman et al. 8 To the patient minimally inconvenienced by diet, should be recommended a regular diet that, at worst, avoids tough or hard foods.
Ommerborn et al. 14 Diet counseling for the patient with bruxism.

Mukherjee, Sen and Sinha 12
For the management of orofacial pain, a successful home care program should emphasize a soft diet. Some patients find eating mild food helpful.

Miernik and Więckiewicz 21
For the closed lock, the recommended self-care protocol might include soft food diet in the initial period of locking.
Martins et al. 4 Avoid foods of thick consistency.
de Freitas et al. 20 Maintenance of soft diet and recommendation to chew carefully.
Craane et al. 17 In their study, patients were advised to use a soft diet and chew bilaterally Self-massage Durham et al. 1 Massage is limited to the anatomic location of the painful or tense affected masticatory muscles. The most easily accessible to palpation are masseter and temporalis.
Giro et al. 13 Self-massage promotes the improvement of local blood circulation and relieves pain and muscle tension. Patients can be instructed to bilaterally massage the masseter and temporal muscles 3 times per day with circular movements performed using the index, middle, and ring fingers. It was concluded that the improvement of blood flow in the masticatory muscles and decreased muscle tension provided by massages followed by exercises and hot pads can reduce pain, which also contributes to improvement in mandibular function.
Conti et al. 16 Instruct the patients to massage painful areas.
Brantingham et al. 23 Considered soft tissue procedures, such as trigger point therapy, transverse friction massage and therapeutic massage. A typical relaxing massage is focused on reducing muscular tension and improving circulation.  1 Orient the patient to identify, monitor, and avoid any parafunctional behavior that exacerbate their pain.

Mukherjee, Sen and Sinha 12
A reduction in stress/tension-related parafunctional activity can lead to immediate less pain reported by patients. A successful home care program includes parafunctional habit modification.

Miernik and Więckiewicz 21
It is important to explain the mechanism of disc displacement and the negative effects of parafunctions on the stomatognathic system, especially the TMJ.
Martins et al. 4 Their study revealed an improvement in the symptomology, which included modifications in parafunctional activities, greater awareness of the patient and the cognitive placebo effect. Counseling should include guidance on reducing parafunctional mandibular activities.
Giro et al. 13 Parafunctional habits are involved in the development and maintenance of the signs and symptoms of TMD. Behavioral therapies may help relieve musculoskeletal pain and restore mandibular function by reducing inflammation, relieving muscle tension, and improving psychological health. Counseling and self-care approaches include guidance in reducing parafunctional jaw activities.
de Freitas et al. 20 A TMD self-management program should orient the patient towards becoming aware of parafunctional habits, such as teeth clenching. Patient must be able to monitor and reduce muscle parafunction in the head and neck region.
Conti et al. 16 In their study, the improvement in pain reported after a 3-month period reflected the importance of behavioral alterations and the avoidance of deleterious and parafunctional habits in the facial pain of masticatory origin.
Campi et al. 19 A self-care program should include habit reversion techniques and correct jaw use. Table 2. Self-management clinical protocol for the patient, including techniques and education with the purpose of awareness Self-management clinical protocol TMD definition and etiology Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) refers to a group of masticatory system changes characterized by pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and/or masticatory muscles, joint sounds, joint movement shifts or limitations. The etiology of TMDs can be quite varied, and known causes include developmental conditions, trauma, infection, and autoimmune conditions. However, the etiology most frequently seen in the clinic is at best speculative, and factors that are frequently held as responsible for pain and dysfunction comprise grinding, clenching and stress.
"Optimistic counseling" TMD is typically benign and self-limiting in the vast majority of cases. It is important to emphasize the good prognosis of this benign disorder. Patients that receive extensive information and considerable patient-doctor interaction present faster improvement.

Rest of masticatory muscles
Avoid excessive mandibular movements, such as chewing gums. When your jaw is at rest, your teeth should never touch -the teeth only touch during chewing and swallowing. The jaw should be kept in the postural position, with the teeth separated, avoiding an involuntary muscular contraction. To learn the position, repeatedly pronounce the letter "N" and hold the tongue in this position behind the upper incisor teeth, with the lips in slight contact. Avoid leaning on your jaw at rest. Limit your maximum buccal opening, especially when yawning or singing.
Soft diet/Bilateral mastication Avoid tough, hard and thick consistency food. Try to eat soft food slowly, in small pieces. Some patients find eating mild food helpful. Chew carefully and bilaterally, in order not to overload the TMJ.
Observation and reduction in parafunctional habits Parafunctional habits exacerbate pain. They are involved in the development and maintenance of the signs and symptoms of TMD. Therefore, it is important to identify, monitor and avoid this type of habits. Avoid clenching and/or grinding your teeth. Avoid pen (objects in general) and nails biting. Use some type of reminder to notice any parafunctions and try to turn them into a non-jaw-related habit. Patient must be able to monitor and reduce muscle parafunction in the head and neck region.

Improvement of posture
This is part of a specific physical self-regulation strategy which helps in the management of pain complaints. It involves posture training with a physical therapist, awareness training to improve symmetric head and neck postures and training in diaphragmatic breathing. Improvement of sleep This is also part of a specific physical self-regulation strategy which helps in the management of pain complaints. It involves instructions for improving sleep onset, position-oriented relaxation training and positioning the pillow supporting the head and neck during sleep.
Use of heat Apply hot packs to areas of pain, for 15 minutes 3 times per day. Thermotherapy promotes pain relief, improves muscle tone and relaxes mandibular muscles.
Self-massage Bilaterally massage the masseter and temporal muscles 3 times per day with circular movements performed using the index, middle, and ring fingers. Self-massage promotes the improvement of local blood circulation and relieves pain and muscle tension, which also contributes to the improvement in mandibular function.

DIFFICULTIES
There is a recognized difficulty in the establishment of a reference standard clinical protocol, or some type of guidelines for specific interventions, due to a lack of evidence of the efficacy of one treatment over another 1 and also because there are a great variety of methods used in clinical trials. Moreover, it is known that having a confirmed diagnosis is a necessary step towards effective clinical management, which is particularly difficult for TMD's, due to the multifactorial etiology of the TMD 11 . Several patients seek treatment for symptoms of diverse origins, or comorbidities, emphasizing the importance of differential diagnosis 9 . Orofacial pain management can be immensely challenging, so the clinician must be well aware of the variety of etiological factors and characteristics of these conditions 12 .
Another barrier is the impact of a wide range of demographic, clinical, psychological and social factors in the treatment outcome 6 . Parafunctional habits, neuromuscular and psychosocial factors are involved in the development and maintenance of TMD's signs and symptoms. Hence treatments that take into account only biomedical factors are often insufficient to promote long-term improvement 13 .

CONCLUSION
There are two main objectives established for the treatment of the TMD patient: the control of pain severity and improvement of function. Current literature indicates that non-invasive and conservative therapies, with a good level of scientific evidence, are effective and more prudent. Patients present better results when the professional is willing to inform them completely about their condition. This contributes to reducing the fear, depression and anxiety that are characteristic of the patient with chronic pain. It becomes the clinician responsibility to study the self-management therapies in the literature, in order to guide the patient in his individuality and in the particularities of his clinical case, enabling him in the light of his own dysfunction. Table 2. Self-management clinical protocol for the patient, including techniques and education with the purpose of awareness-continuation Self-management clinical protocol Jaw muscles exercises, relaxation and posture training The therapeutic self-exercise consists in the prescription of muscular contractions and body movements in order to improve general function and help satisfy the demands of daily life. · Relaxation exercises: Movements of opening, laterality, protrusion and closing resistance (with the fist as support, for example). · Relaxation exercises with diaphragmatic breathing: Exhale completely with one hand resting on the chest and the other on the abdomen, training to become aware of the mechanism of breathing only by the position and hand movement. Diaphragmatic breathing should be performed for 5 minutes every day, every 2 hours. However, use this coordinated breathing the most frequent possible throughout the day. · Stretching exercises: Open your mouth slowly until you experience an initial sensation of pain. Open a little more with slight pressure, positioning the thumb in the upper arch, approximately in the region of premolars, and the index finger in the lower arch, also in the region of the premolars. The technique should be performed every day, every 2 hours, keeping the elongated jaw in position for one minute, six times in a row. · Coordination exercises: Consist of repeated opening, laterality, protrusion and mandibular retrusion movements. They must be performed slowly and coordinated, in front of the mirror, 3 times per day. · Mobilization exercises: Perform mandibular laterality movements to recapture the disc, if possible. Then perform gentle protrusion and retrusion movements by holding some small object between the teeth.