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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.

Introducing our TMD Nutrition Guide

  • Jun 1, 2017

The pain and jaw dysfunction associated with Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) can impact your ability to chew and swallow food. How and what you are able to eat can seriously compromise your nutritional and health status - an aspect of TMD that is often overlooked by both patients and health care providers.

The TMJ Association (TMJA) asked patients their opinion on this topic. Here are a few comments we received:

"...Eating fruits, veggies, and health foods tend to be very hard on my jaw; I can get a headache just from eating an apple or a few carrots.  I would much rather sit around and eat mashed potatoes and not hurt..."

"...There are days I am so hungry, but I know the price I will pay if I 'chew' the wrong foods..."

"...My daily food choices are very limited, due to the possibility of my jaw locking up while chewing crunchy or chewy foods..."

Based on patient feedback, we found that there is a definite need to address nutrition and TMD. To help us, we enlisted the expertise of:

  • Patti Cobb, RD, CD, Chief Clinical Dietitian and Dena McDowell, MS, RD, CD, Registered Dietitian, both with the Food and Nutritional Services at Froedtert Memorial Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a teaching institution affiliated with the Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Joel Epstein, DMD, MSD, Consulting Staff, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, Collaborative Member, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute and staff at Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences Center in Los Angeles, California
  • Janelle Botez, TMD patient who encouraged us to undertake this project and offered her insight as a patient on the booklet content
  • Maureen Donahue who volunteered her time and talents in creating the booklet layout and design

With their expertise, we developed, "TMD Nutrition and You," a nutritional guide booklet specifically developed for people with compromised oral function to help them maintain a healthy diet in spite of their oral disability. Click here to download a free copy of our booklet.

Please consider a tax-deductible contribution to The TMJ Association.  As a nonprofit organization, we rely upon your contributions to carry out projects like this to help improve the lives of those we serve - TMJ patients.  

©2016 The TMJ Association, Ltd. All rights

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