Etiology and treatment of occlusal pathosis and associated facial pain

The treatment of occlusal pathosis and associated facial pain is a difficult and complex problem. The interaction of two etiologic factors, occlusal interferences and psychologic stress, results in parafunctional activity. The most important prerequisite to selection of a treatment method is an understanding of the etiology of the problem. What dentistry needs is a mechanism by which the major etiologic factor of parafunctional activity can be identified for each patient. Treatment can then be directed toward the reduction or elimination of that factor. When treatment is directed toward the major cause of the problem, the likelihood of success will increase greatly. Continued research on this problem will yield new insights and means for the accurate determination of the etiology of parafunctional activity for each patient.