Temporomandibular disorders: Do we finally have a consensus standard of care for dissemination?

In an attempt to solve the potential confusion around the temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) practice, a group of expert researchers and clinicians, on behalf of the International Network for Orofacial Pain and Related Disorders Methodology of the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, developed a consensus document on the standards of care for TMD management. The document is a list of 10 key points that include 3 statements on general concepts and etiology, 3 on diagnosis, 3 on treatment, and 1 on cautionary and conclusive remarks for the patient. The key points have the potential to assist both general and specialist dental practitioners to advance their understanding and facilitate the provision of conservative and appropriate treatment. Indeed, when it comes to pain, we need to look beyond the teeth. Decades of research in pain physiology, chronicity, genetics, and comorbidity, to name a few, have allowed a better appreciation of the complexities associated with one’s TMD-related pain experience. Technical interventions, whether dental or surgical, typically play only a minor role in the broader management of any TMD pain. The paradigm shift from a dental to a medical model of disease has been well embraced and supported by the global community of orofacial pain specialists who are formally trained and who have been consistently applying these principles in line with established evidence-based clinical practices for years. This information is now available to everyone.