Bringing Everyone Together To Advance Patient-Centered Care
The TMJ Association is the only global nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to advancing research that has been identified by patients as critical to addressing their needs.
The problems with current diagnosis and treatment of TMJ disorders are numerous:
- The quality of TMJ research is poor and has been long-neglected.
- As a result, we understand very little about this complex disease, which often exists with other complex medical conditions.
- It has fallen through the cracks between medicine and dentistry.
- There is little to no evidence-based training on TMJ disorders in dental or medical schools.
- There are no standards of care or guidelines to inform the clinical treatment of patients, ensuring that It is safe and effective.
- Dental insurance coverage is hit-or-miss.
- There is an added stigma associated with this condition which makes living with it difficult.
While the solutions to these problems may be simple, they are not easy to implement in our current health care system. For over 30 years, we have been the major entity fighting for the necessary research and convening key decision makers to bring about lasting changes to the way TMJ disorders are understood, diagnosed and treated.
What We Do
Educate
The more you know, the better equipped and empowered you will be to make informed decisions about your care. You will better understand what is and isn’t possible given what we know about TMJ disorders to date. Our goal is to provide the latest evidence-based information and resources on diagnosis, self-care, treatments, related conditions, and research. We also have a special focus on educating patients and healthcare providers as to the current understanding of TMJ disorders as complex medical conditions that involve multiple body systems and often co-occur with other diseases.
Support
Because of the stigma associated with TMJ disorders, and significant impact of these conditions on all aspects of patients’ lives and the confusion surround treatments, many feel isolated, alone and unsupported. Connecting with others for ongoing encouragement and support is a vital component of coping with this chronic condition. We provide a free online support network – TMJ Café – where you can connect with others who have common experiences with TMJ disorders,  along with other support resources for patients. Â
Research
TMJ disorders is a poorly understood and long-time neglected condition. Without the advancement of scientific understanding, the clinical care of TMJ disorders will continue to be based on a health care provider’s belief and not facts. Through a variety of programs and activities, we work tirelessly to advance scientific research that will improve our understanding of TMJ disorders and lead to safe and effective treatments.
Advocate
We spend a lot of time listening to patients to really understand their experiences and needs. We translate these needs into programmatic requests to policy makers and other key decision makers who have the ability to enact long-overdue change. We advocate for the needs of patients with TMJ disorders to ensure that their voices are heard among policymakers, health and research agencies, dental/medical providers, researchers and the general public. We invite you to join us.
Donate Today to Advance TMJ Initiatives
The TMJ Association has a major task ahead to support patients and accomplish our priorities and we can’t do it without you. Please donate today to advance research, safe and effective treatments and public awareness of this debilitating condition.