Milestones

Chronic Pain Research Alliance Initiative (2013-Present): TMJ disorders rarely exist alone – it is common for patients to also experience a number of other chronic pain conditions, which are called Chronic Overlapping Pain Conditions (COPCs). To address this gap, the TMJA established the Chronic Pain Research Alliance (CPRA) Initiative. Its mission is to promote high-quality research on chronic overlapping pain conditions, translate research findings into information for patients and educational training programs for clinicians, and drive the development of safe and effective treatments for these conditions

Overlapping Conditions Alliance (2010 – 2012): The TMJ Association joined organizational leaders of the CFIDS Association of America (now named the Solve ME/CFS Initiative), Endometriosis Association, and the National Vulvodynia Association to form the Overlapping Conditions Alliance (now the Chronic Pain Research Alliance) and conducted the Campaign to End Chronic Pain in Women. The campaign, which was kicked off with a standing-room-only event on Capitol Hill, released its first white paper, Chronic Pain in Women: Neglect, Dismissal and Discrimination, and also launched a website featuring a newly developed video, Through the Maze. The campaign raised awareness of chronic pain conditions that disproportionately impact women, as well as exposed the neglect, dismissal and discrimination in the medical/dental profession faced by women suffering from chronic pain.

FDA Investigation (2006-2007): TMJA’s advocacy triggered the US Government Accountability Office to investigate the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process of TMJ total joint devices. This investigation shed light on problems associated with TMJ implants, leading to more aggressive action by Congress and the FDA to hold manufacturers accountable and to improve the safety and quality of TMJ implants. Two of the major findings were: 1) FDA management indicated that the clinical data was not expected to be of high quality because the sponsor was a small manufacturer. 2) Either good engineering data or good clinical data was acceptable to approve a device – not necessarily both. Both were later found to be inadequate.

NIH Co-Sponsored Meetings (2000-2016): TMJA, in co-sponsorship of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), convened eight international scientific meetings, the recommendations of which continue to guide the direction and focus of NIH-sponsored TMJ research. The meetings have brought experts from other areas of research together with scientists who have focused on TMJ to exchange ideas and build an innovative research agenda. The goal of these meetings was to build a solid scientific basis for TMJ research and define future directions of research.

Congressional Study on TMJ Treatment (2000): TMJA’s advocacy led to the congressionally mandated Study of the Per-Patient Cost and Efficacy of Treatment for Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 & Part 4). The report confirmed the findings of the 1996 NIH Technology Assessment Conference that few randomized clinical trials or other types of rigorous studies exist for determining the effectiveness of treatments for TMJ disorders.

NIH Technology Assessment Conference (1996): TMJA’s efforts resulted in the NIH sponsored Technology Assessment Conference, “Management of Temporomandibular Disorders,” which was pivotal in revealing the neglected state of TMJ research and treatment.

FDA Class I Recall and Congressional Hearing (1992): Following the FDA Class I Recall of the Vitek implant (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 & Part 5), the TMJA was successful in bringing attention to the harm caused to patients by TMJ implants. TMJA’s effort to bring attention to the harm caused to patients by TMJ implants initiated a Congressional hearing entitled, “Are the FDA and NIH Ignoring the Dangers of TMJ Implants?”

In the 1970s, Vitek Inc., created Teflon sheeting using DuPont’s Teflon FEP film, laminated to a porous composite material made from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). This material was implanted into a patient’s TMJ fossa or condyle. These implants led to many devastating health effects including death and suffering in others.

The TMJ Association, Ltd. Incorporates as a nonprofit (1989): The TMJ Association incorporates as a 501(c) nonprofit organization per the state of Wisconsin.

First TMJ Support Group Meeting in Milwaukee, WI (1986): TMJA co-founders held their first TMJ support group meeting in Milwaukee, WI.