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Computerized electronic telethermography provides clinicians with a reliable evaluation of subtle body surface temperature changes that show underlying physical disorders characterized by pain. The first study population involved 4000 measurements of 100 volunteers at the Medical School of New Jersey. This study of normal volunteers evaluates the validity and reliability of using 0.5 degrees C skin surface temperature difference between opposite sides of the head as a minimum difference standard for recognition of a clinically significant thermographic abnormality. A second study population of over 300 patients with clinically suspected temporomandibular disorder were used. The authors used a standard thermographic protocol procedure that is approved by the Academy of Neuromuscular Thermography. Also discussed in detail are artifactual influences and trigger point detection. The clinical value of this information in the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorder patients is self evident.

Standard clinical thermographic practice has been to regard a side-to-side skin surface temperature difference of 0.5 degrees C or greater as indicative of a clinically significant disorder when such a difference is observed for the contralateral sides of the face. Prior to this time this standard relied upon empiric observation and cumulative experience. This paper provides the first published documentation clearly supportive of this long-standing clinical practice.