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Wear Face Masks with No Metal During MRI Exams: FDA Safety Communication

The FDA recently received a report that a patient’s face was burned from the metal in a face mask worn during an MRI. The FDA reminds patients and providers that patients should not wear any metal during an MRI. TOPIC: Wear Face Masks with No Metal During MRI Exams: FDA Safety Communication  

A Tribute to William “Bill” Maixner, Ph.D., D.D.S

All of us at The TMJ Association are deeply saddened by the loss of a treasured friend, an accomplished and highly respected scientist, empathic clinician and one of temporomandibular disorder's (TMJ) greatest champions – Dr. William “Bill” Maixner. Bill passed away on Monday, November 2, 2020, at the age of 68.

New Report on Temporomandibular Disorders: Priorities for Research and Care

Over a year and half ago, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) began the most comprehensive study ever undertaken on Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD). The study assessed the current state of TMD research, education and training, the safety and efficacy of clinical treatments, and associated burden and costs.

Statement by NIDCR Acting Director on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Report on Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

I am pleased to announce the release of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report, Temporomandibular Disorders: Priorities for Research and Care. As underscored by the comprehensive report, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJDs) are a diverse and still poorly understood set of complex, painful conditions affecting the jaw muscles and tissues, temporomandibular joints, and associated nerves. Clearly, there is much more to be understood, and these conditions continue to confound medical and dental health care providers and researchers.

Have you seen the film Dark Waters?

The Film. Dark Waters is about attorney Robert Billott's real-life 20 year legal battle against DuPont chemical for releasing toxic waste - perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA - into Parkersburg, West Virginia's water supply, with devastating health effects on the townspeople and livestock. PFOA, also known as C8, is a man-made chemical. It is used in the process of making Teflon and similar chemicals known as fluorotelomers.

Sally's Story

  • May 13, 2015

My TMJ issues have been present for the last ten years. It started as migraine headaches and progressed into neck and shoulder pain. Doctors sent me to physical therapy and treated the headaches with numerous medications. We started narrowing down the pain to the jaw area. One day my physical therapist tried to loosen up my jaw for some stretching and didn't like what she felt. She stopped immediately and told me I should go see an oral surgeon. At first I didn't understand but I was willing to try anything to treat the pain issues I was facing on a daily basis.

Upon visiting the oral surgeon he some x-rays and an MRI and said my condition was too severe for him to treat. He referred to two medical centers. Once he described to the issues I decided to get a second opinion. He told me the bone leading up to the socket in my jaw was cracked, disfigured, and falling apart. The bone had ground up the cartilage, disc, and socket. Without getting surgery soon, I would face not being able to open and close my mouth to talk or eat. I knew that surgery was not something I wanted.

My second opinion turned into seeing nine different doctors all over the state. Every doctor I saw told me the same thing. You need surgery soon and I can't do it. Finally I contact the two medical centers and set up a consultation. I also found patients that had the surgery and the type of device that both places recommended. I did my own interview process and decided on a hospital and the TMJ Concepts device. After waiting seven months I had surgery to replace my left joint, socket and mandible on Jan 24th, 2011.

The surgery went very well. Once home the only issues I faced was controlling the pain and swelling. I am currently in week six of my healing and with every week the pain is reducing. The swelling is coming down at a very slow pace. I can talk, chew, and eat soft foods. I only experience a little of the former pain I used to have and the doctor told me that should decrease with time. I'm so grateful for how I was treated and the good out come I have had to far. I would recommend to anyone that has to have this surgery to consider the device I had put in since it's customized to your specific skull. Once I was in surgery they removed the degenerative pieces of my jaw, overlaid the new pieces and attached it to my bone. I feel this process has helped with my recovery process.

As far as how long my device will last, we will see. I hope to take good care of the joint and have it last longer than the average time we are currently seeing in other patients.

Sally

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