The TMJ Scale™

The TMJ Scale helps provide a comprehensive, multi-dimensional evaluation of both the physical and psychosocial symptoms associated with temporomandibular disorders (‘TMJ’), craniofacial pain and dysfunction.  This self-report, psychometrically developed symptom assessment instrument is also useful to: screen for TM Disorders; measure overall and individual physical symptom intensity; measure facial, head and neck pain; measure symptom change and patient progress over time; and measure/document treatment outcome.  It helps screen for non-TM disorder complicating illnesses, elevated psychological distress and stress states, and the presence or tendency of the patient to develop chronic problems.

The TMJ Scale is used by dentists, physicians, psychologists, pain management specialists and other licensed medical professionals in a variety of medical settings, as well as for research purposes.  It has found widespread use primarily by dentists specializing in the evaluation and treatment of facial pain and TM disorders.  General dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists and prosthodontists also employ this clinical tool for a variety of purposes, including screening patients, ruling out TM disorders and to help make referrals.  Psychologists who test and/or treat patients with facial pain and TM disorders as well as neurologists, neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists, family practice and physicians in rehabilitation medicine can effectively employ this clinical tool.

It can be used for:    

• General screening for the presence of TM disorders
• Measurement of head and facial pain associated with TM disorders
• Initial evaluation of TMD patients at intake as an objective, quantitative method of symptom measurement
• Monitoring treatment progress and making clinical decisions
• Measurement of treatment outcome for the individual TMD patient and for TMD treatment programs and providers

Testimonial:

 “I’ve been treating patients with TM disorders and facial pain since 1972.  My two most difficult problems are   spotting patients with psychological disturbances who won’t respond to my treatments, and detecting non-TM disorders that confuse treatment and place both the patient and me at risk.  The TMJ Scale is a dramatic breakthrough that solves these problems.  It has become an indispensable part of my practice.  It is the only scientifically validated tool which measures symptoms.  I find it essential for proper risk management.  It has greatly improved my treatment effectiveness and insurance reimbursement.  Any dentist concerned about quality of care or malpractice liability should not practice without it.  In fact, the TMJ Scale is so essential that I hesitate to treat my patients without it.  So should you!”
Dr. Edward P. Spiegel, D.D.S, Erie, Pennsylvania
Dipolmate and Fellow, American Academy of Craniofacial Pain
Diplomate, American Board of Head, Neck and Facial Pain
Fellow, American Board of Orofacial Pain

www.htldental.com

 “We have used the TMJ Scale for many years especially to screen for stress related factors and psychological conditions which require professional evaluation elsewhere. This is only one of many benefits of the TMJ Scale. However, its value has proven itself repeatedly.!”
Ira Klemons, D.D.S., Ph.D.
President, American Board of Craniofacial Pain 
www.headaches.com 

 The TMJ Scale™ is an essential tool in my armamentarium. The quantitative data the TMJ Scale provides has been critical in making differential diagnoses and developing treatment plans for patients who suffer from temporomandibular disorders (TMD), craniofacial pain and sleep disorders. As a clinician who has successfully treated thousands of these patients over the past three decades, I have found nothing that serves me as well as the TMJ Scale in objectively assessing each patient’s adaptive capacity and screening for psychological and stress-related problems that may complicate or compromise treatment outcomes. In fact, I believe so strongly in the TMJ Scale that I administer it to each and every patient I see – and I’ve even incorporated it into my patient history form! It is a highly accurate and scientifically sound assessment tool that yields reliable data that supports my multi-disciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment. No pain practitioner should be without it!
ROBERT L. TALLEY, DDS Norman, OK
Diplomate, American Board of Craniofacial Pain
Diplomate, American Board of Orofacial Pain
Diplomate, American Academy of Pain Management
Diplomate, American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine
www.tmj-pain.com

 “For well over 10 years I have utilized the TMJ Scale as an adjunctive psychometric analysis for every new patient in my practice. This provides me with a confirmation of my diagnosis and supports my clinical decisions when integrated with the patient's clinical examination, anatomic imaging, physiologic testing, and anamnesis. It assists greatly in differentiating the patient's TMJ complaints as well as their non- TMJ physical complaints together with their psychological and stress related problems that can interfere with their treatment outcomes. In addition, re-testing at MMI affords the doctor a succinct summary of symptom diminution and relief, and an objective means of evaluating treatment effectiveness.
Not only does the TMJ Scale provide an excellent psychometric analysis (both physically and psychologically) for the doctor, but additionally the graph on page 2 furnishes the patient with a clear understanding of their health status regarding their craniofacial problem. The "confidence report" level also allows the practitioner to ascertain patient credibility as a result of completing the 97-question test.
The TMJ Scale is one screening modality that I deem indispensable and will not practice without. I consider the importance of the TMJ Scale essential to the clinical examination and imaging testing, universally accepted as the standard of care for the diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders. As a result, it enhances my risk management potential, which is invaluable considering the litigious society in which we presently practice. ”
Dr. Pamela A. Steed, DDS, MSD Indianapolis, Indiana
Diplomate and Fellow, American Academy of Craniofacial Pain
Board Member and Secretary, American Academy of Head, Neck and Facial Pain
www.pasteed.com

 “ I have used the TMJ Scale for almost 20 years to document the patients' clinical status prior to treatment and then to document treatment outcomes. I find it an accurate, comprehensive and quantitative measurement of patients' symptoms. I have used it as evidence for litigation. It is also a great way to support my clinical diagnosis. I have used it as a basis of measurement in four published journal articles.
 
I strongly recommend its use by clinicians in the TMD field. ”
 
Dr. Gerald Wexler, DDS, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry – 1980
Fellow of the Academy of International Dental Studies - 1985
Diplomat of the American Board of Orofacial Pain - 1996
www.drgeraldwexler.com

New Users:  To Register your new account now and receive Two (2) FREE TMJ Scale Scorings and One (1) FREE Chronic Pain Battery Scoring click here

To see a sample TMJ Scale Report™ and Rapid Guide to Interpretation >Click here

New Users:  To Register your new account now and receive Two (2) FREE TMJ Scale Scorings and One (1) FREE Chronic Pain Battery Scoring click here

General Discussion

WHAT IS IT?   The TMJ Scale ™ is the most widely-used, standardized method for quantitatively assessing TM disorder symptoms, including facial pain, and measuring treatment outcome. The TMJ Scale is a patient completed diagnostic test.   It has been successfully used on hundreds-of-thousands of patients over the past 22 years and has the highest published accuracy of any similar test (88-93%).  Its validity, reliability, sensitivity, specificity and predictive values have been extensively studied in a wide variety of clinical populations and documented in at least thirty six publications in some of the most highly respected peer-reviewed scientific journals. The TMJ Scale accurately identifies the presence of a TM disorder and measures its overall severity.  In addition, it measures the various physical symptoms including facial pain, joint dysfunction and range of motion limitation, among others.  It has found widespread use clinically as an important pain measurement tool.  In addition, it screens for psychological problems, elevated stress levels, the presence of non-TM disorders and chronic problems.  This comprehensive, multi-dimensional assessment tool contributes to diagnostic decision making and helps document the patient’s initial problems, treatment effectiveness and treatment outcome.  It also assists with referrals and is a highly valuable risk management tool. 

Used at the initial evaluation and then during and/or after treatment, the TMJ Scale measures and documents symptom improvement over time and the resulting final outcome.  The resulting TMJ Scale Report™ includes a fully interpreted narrative report and summary along with a graphic plot of 10 scale scores comparing the patient’s results to various clinical populations. It is an extremely valuable, almost indispensable, addition to clinical documentation and for legal purposes and risk management.  It is often used in TMJ injury litigation. Over the years, the TMJ Scale has been the subject of numerous peer-reviewed scientific research publications in universities, dental schools and by private practitioners.  The TMJ Scale has been chosen by the prestigious American Academy of Craniofacial Pain to be the key symptom measurement tool employed in the largest research study of its kind on TM disorders.    

ON-LINE SCORING   Use of this test is extremely easy.  It can be ordered and scored on-line with reports printed, at the clinician’s convenience, in the office regardless of which computer or operating system is used.  Call 800-542-7246 and within minutes your account will be set up, including TWO (2) FREE TEST SCORINGS so you can experience the value of this test at absolutely NO COST to you and no further obligation.  We are confident that once you try this test, you will choose to employ it in your clinical practice.  We will not share any information you give us with other parties.  After you call, you will receive an email with log-on information to access your new account (user name and password) and your 2 FREE TEST SCORINGS.  As an alternative, you can simply log on to www.tmjscale.com, click on ‘Clinician Log In’ and after accepting the Terms and Conditions for using the website testing service, click on ‘Register’ and follow the directions.

New Users:  To Register your new account now and receive Two (2) FREE TMJ Scale Scorings and One (1) FREE Chronic Pain Battery Scoring click here

PLEASE NOTE:  the website is secure and encrypted for your privacy and safety. 

HOW IT WORKS   Go to www.tmjscale.com and click on ‘Clinician Log In.’ When you log-on to your account, you will see two (2) FREE test scorings. You can choose whether you want to download and print the test to give to your patients to fill out, or they can take the test on-line using a computer in your office.  If you choose the most common option, to print the test and have the patient complete it in office or at home (takes about 15 minutes), then you or your office staff can log-on to your account and enter the answers (just a minute or two), score and print the report within seconds.  You can read the report on-line, download and save it to a file, or print a hardcopy for the patient’s chart.

TO ORDER ADDITIONAL TEST SCORINGS   Simply go to www.tmjscale.com, click on ‘Clinician Log In’  After logging in, go to ‘Purchase Scorings’ which uses a secure Verisign link.  Cost ranges from $21 when ordering a single scoring, to as low as $15 each when ordering 100 scorings.  When logged in, you can also enter new tests, score and generate reports and change your Password.  You can also order ‘TMJ Compare™,’ a tool that easily allows you to quantitatively compare the results of 2 TMJ Scale tests (ex. initial test and one during or after treatment) to help measure treatment progress and outcome. 

Option: For those wanting to avoid ordering on the internet, please call 800-542-7246.

WHY USE IT?   Many TM disorder and facial pain specialists insist on having this test as part of their initial evaluation.  They consider the TMJ Scale to be an essential part of the Standard of Care in the field and the Gold Standard for measuring TMD symptoms, including facial pain.  This is an excellent way to carefully document the patient’s condition before treatment and to rule out or identify complicating factors.  The TMJ Scale serves as an independent confirmation of your diagnostic impression.  It is a powerful tool that can justify the need for treatment and demonstrate treatment efficacy to insurance carriers.  It is quick, easy to use, inexpensive ($15-$21 depending on quantity ordered) and often reimbursable.  Above all, it is highly reliable, accurate and comprehensive. 

BILLING AND FEES   We cannot recommend what fee a healthcare professional may charge for administration, scoring, interpretation and reporting. Some practitioners choose to simply absorb the cost of this test. Many others include it in their initial assessment fee and some bill separately for it. Practitioners sometimes charge only their actual cost in using this testing service. However, due to the overhead costs in administering and scoring the test, and the clinician’s professional time in reading, analyzing and reporting, billable fees may be generated. Based on anecdotal information, these fees reportedly range from $50-200, averaging around $125 (similar to an X-ray). Clinicians who do file insurance usually do so to medical insurance carriers. CPT Codes 96101, 96102 and 96103 appear to be used most often for this type of testing depending on your specialty and how the test is administered.

New Users:  To Register your new account now and receive Two (2) FREE TMJ Scale Scorings and One (1) FREE Chronic Pain Battery Scoring click here

TMJ Scale™, TMJ Scale Report™ and TMJ Compare™ are trademarks of Pain Resource Center, Inc

©2010 Pain Resource Center, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.