Temporomandibular disorders affect an estimated 11–12 million people in the United States, often causing significant pain, disability, and reduced quality of life.* Despite the essential role of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in everyday functions like eating and speaking, these conditions remain underrecognized and under-researched compared with other musculoskeletal disorders. Women are disproportionately affected, and many patients experience a progression from localized symptoms to chronic, complex pain.
A major challenge for patients is the lack of coordinated care. TMDs sit at the intersection of dentistry, medicine, neurology, and pain management, yet no single specialty takes clear responsibility. As a result, patients are frequently referred between providers, often receiving inconsistent diagnoses and treatment recommendations. This fragmentation reflects longstanding structural divides in the U.S. healthcare system, particularly the separation of medicine and dentistry, which has limited access to comprehensive care, standardized diagnosis, and insurance coverage.
Patients have shared powerful accounts of this experience, describing confusion, poor communication among providers, and difficulty finding knowledgeable care. These challenges highlight the need to recognize TMDs as complex, multisystem conditions requiring coordinated, interdisciplinary management, similar to other chronic diseases.
Encouragingly, efforts are underway to address these gaps. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and The TMJ Association are working together to build a national research infrastructure, including patient registries and collaborative networks to better understand and treat TMDs. The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine have also called for integrated care models, improved education across health professions, and the development of specialized centers that combine clinical care with research innovation.
Advancing care will require sustained commitment to breaking down silos between medical and dental education, increasing research investment, and ensuring that patients receive coordinated, evidence-based treatment. Addressing these systemic issues is essential to improving outcomes and restoring quality of life for those living with TMDs.
Source: Bond EC, Cowley AW Jr. Temporomandibular disorders: An overlooked epidemic, The American Journal of Medicine, (2026).
*National Academies of Sciences Engineering, and Medicine. Temporomandibular Disorders: Priorities for Research and Care, National Academies Press, Washington, DC, 2020. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557987/