A Clemson University-led research team supported by the TMD IMPACT R34 Planning Grant has published two major papers advancing the study of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
In the Journal of Dental Research, the team introduces a new research framework that integrates TMJ structure, function, and pain through a comprehensive multiscale approach. This framework addresses longstanding fragmentation in the field by connecting biomechanics, cellular and molecular processes, neural signaling, and pain mechanisms into a unified model for understanding disease onset and progression.
In a companion paper in Advanced Science, the researchers present an innovative 3D whole-joint mapping method that quantitatively characterizes the spatiotemporal cellular and molecular landscape of the TMJ. This high-resolution mapping platform enables detailed analysis of how structural and biological changes evolve over time and how they relate to joint function and pain.
Together, these advances provide powerful new conceptual and technical tools for investigating TMJ disorders. By linking structural, functional, and pain-related data, the TMD IMPACT team’s work lays critical groundwork for improved diagnostics and more targeted, mechanism-based therapeutic strategies.