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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.

Online TMD Diet Diary Research Project

Online TMD Diet Diary Research Project The TMJ Association received the following request from Professor Justin Durham and his research team at Newcastle University. We encourage TMJ patients to participate in this project as it is an under researched

Drug Induced Bruxism

The authors of this article state that orofacial movement disorders (bruxism) are treated typically by dental professionals and not by those specialists (neurologists) researching and treating the other movement disorders (Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, tremors, etc.). Again, this is more evidence of the complexity of TMD and the need for multidisciplinary research and treatment in TMD.

Suzanne: Teen Awareness and Support

  • May 13, 2015

Suzanne is a teenager who wants desperately to live life free from pain and discomfort. TMJ symptoms have forced Suzanne to stop doing what most teenagers take for granted—hanging out with friends, going to school, and participating in sports and music.

Suzanne decided to do something to help herself and began researching TMJ diseases and disorders on the Internet. She discovered the Association’s website and was comforted to know that an organization existed that truly understood what she was going through.

Suzanne wrote, “I am 16 years old and have had TMJ since I was born. As I have gotten older, it has worsened. My jaw has started to give me a speaking problem and causes so much pain. I have to live with this pain because my parents don’t have health insurance, and we can’t afford major reconstructive surgery that will cost way over $30,000. My parents have struggled for years to get me as much help and comfort as they could. Now we are kind of at a halt with no money. I’ve seen so many doctors and have had so many opinions that all ended up the same. I am young, but if I can make it struggling in school with the pain and dislocation, I know other people can too. I hope that one day someone will find a cure, so I can actually be a kid for once and do things that I want to do, like sports and stuff. That is my one dream.”

Suzanne hopes by sharing her story she can reassure teens and provide them a sense of comfort in knowing they are not alone and that there is hope.

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