Book review

This is a book which has resulted from the contributions of 45 authors with the aim of addressing current concepts on temporomandibular disorders. It is divided into four sections.

The first deals with anatomy of the temporomandibular joint and masticatory muscles, TMD classification and TMD as a chronic pain disorder. The second part deals principally with aetiology of temporomandibular disorders, subdivided into chapters on aetiology of muscle disorders, disc displacements, TMJ osteoarthrosis, bruxism and, finally, there is a section of future perspectives in TMJ pathophysiology. The third section is devoted to diagnosis, including clinical assessment, psychological assessment and imaging of the TMJ. This section then widens its remit to include an instrumental approach to diagnosis and further diversifies to include differential diagnosis of orofacial pain, headache and temporomandibular disorders, the relationship between otologic and TMD symptoms and examines malocclusion and body posture. The final section is on management of temporomandibular disorders but this is not a clinical treatise. This section follows the format of the rest of the book in being a literature review of current thoughts on procedures. The overall feeling of this book therefore is one of a large literature review and not of a clinical manual.