Securing TMJ funding can be painful
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction affects up to 33 million Americans. Some patients go to extreme lengths for pain relief, including surgeries to replace jaw joints with artificial implants and other measures that often lead to more harm than good. Despite almost a century of attempts to treat TMJ, the condition remains poorly understood, under-researched and ineffectively treated, according to experts.
Recent efforts to improve TMJ disorder treatment include increased research funding from the National Institutes of Health and updated dental school accreditation standards. However, these measures are considered insufficient when compared with the funding and attention given to other health conditions.
A study by national academies on TMJ disorders, incorporating feedback from over 110 patients, revealed a concerning lack of education among health care providers, including dentists, about TMJ. This gap in knowledge can lead to overly aggressive treatments and the absence of evidence-based care options.
Read more: Kasier Health News
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