"The Perils of TMJ: Understanding Chronic Pain and Treatment Challenges"
Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) afflict up to 33 million Americans, causing chronic pain and stiffness in the jaw and face, with severe symptoms more common in women. Despite decades of dental treatments, TMJ remains misunderstood and ineffectively treated, leading some patients to undergo multiple surgeries, including total jaw replacements with metal hinges. The lack of compelling scientific evidence and consistent results for TMJ treatments has left patients feeling trapped in a cycle of futile care, with many regretting the treatments they received. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine and the NIH have highlighted the inadequacy of TMJ treatments, calling for better education and research funding to improve care for this debilitating condition.