For the Clinician
The TMJ Scale™ has been used for over 20 years by dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons treating Temporomandibular joint disorders and craniofacial pain (TMD/CP). The test is based on research which has been widely published in the J of Craniomandibular Practice; the J of Orofacial Pain; the J of Prosthetic Dentistry; the J of Clinical Orthodontics; the American J of Orthodontics; Headache Quarterly; the J of Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Radiology and Endodontics; and others. See the Scientific Publications section.The TMJ Scale is a self-administered symptom inventory entirely completed by the patient. It is appropriate for patients age 13 or over and with an eighth grade reading level. It takes patients about 10-15 minutes to complete. The test organizes symptoms into 10 subscales, including: pain, palpation pain, perceived malocclusion, joint dysfunction, range of motion limitation, non-TMD factors, psychological factors, stress and chronicity. A Global Scale summarizes the physical symptoms and is the most accurate indicator of the presence of TMD/CP. The test does not make specific diagnoses, but can help you to make diagnostic decisions by confirming clinical findings. Certain scale profiles would be consistent with specific diagnoses, such as disk displacement with or without reduction, for example.
The TMJ Scale has been validated and cross-validated with over 14,000 subjects across the US and Canada, and has a published sensitivity and specificity in TMD/CP practices of 88%-93%. Three independent university studies have been published on TMJ Scale validity and research, and the test is currently being used in the largest TMD/CP outcome study ever undertaken (ref. 34). It is especially well-suited for outcome or treatment efficacy studies because it is sensitive to symptom change and quantifies patient symptom reports in a psychometrically valid manner.
Important uses of the TMJ Scale in your practice include:
- Screen for or confirm the presence/absence of a TM Disorder.
- Quantify the severity of the TM Disorder.
- Identify and quantify physical symptom areas.
- Screen for non-TM disorders.
- Screen for psychological problems and stress.
- Identify the potential for a chronic disorder.
- Monitor treatment progress and outcome.
- Improve risk management.
OTHER ISSUES:
The test is appropriate for easily screening large numbers of
individuals for TMD/CP in corporate and governmental settings.
The TMJ Scale is usually reimbursed under CPT medical codes.
CONTACT INFORMATION: If you would like more information on using the TMJ Scale in your practice, please email us at painres@tmjscale.com.
