TMJ Scale Description and Facts
The TMJ Scale is a sophisticated diagnostic test. It collects information about physical symptoms and then analyzes this information to determine if the probability of a TMJ disorder is high. The TMJ Scale falls into the category of diagnostic tools called "psychometric tests." This type of testing instrument has a long history of use going back over 100 years. The scientific principals on which these tools are developed have evolved to a very high degree and this type of testing is presently used in medicine, dentistry and psychology.The TMJ Scale collects a comprehensive inventory of key symptoms related to TMJ disorders. It does this by asking the test taker to provide information about the presence and absence of a wide variety of physical symptoms in the areas of:
- Pain in the jaw joints and surrounding muscles of the face, head and neck
- Problems of the teeth not fitting properly or the bite feeling off, uncomfortable or changing
- Noises and sounds coming from the jaw joint, like clicking, popping or grinding
- Problems opening and closing the jaw and mouth, such as locking or sideways deviation
- Limitations in moving the jaw through a full range of motion, both opening and sideways
The symptoms are grouped into several categories, or scales, and the scores for each scale are calculated. The resulting scores are then compared to well established and scientifically validated databases from thousands of other persons with TMJ disorders.
The research on which this whole process is based occurred over many years and has been published in numerous scientific papers in major dental journals. Included in these publications are studies of the development, validation, accuracy, reliability andeffectiveness of the TMJ Scale. An accuracy of about 88-93% has been repeatedly reported in various settings. This test is designed for those 13 years and older and can be taken in a very short amount of time, usually about 15 minutes.
Click here for a description of the TMJ Scale Report, including how to read it, and the type of information that it contains.
The following are some important things to know about the TMJ Scale:
- The test has been studied on persons 13 years of age and older. It is therefore not recommended for those below the age of 13.
- If you are under the age of 18 years, it is recommended that you have a parent or other responsible adult supervise your taking this evaluation, and help you both understand the results and make any subsequent decisions regarding seeking out professional help and possible treatment.
- The TMJ Scale Report does not indicate your name or identify who you are. Therefore, the test results are confidential.
- It is important to answer all questions as accurately and honestly as possible in order that the test results be reliable. Please read each question carefully so that you understand its meaning. To see sample questions, which you can answer, please click on Sample Questions.
- You will be asked to indicate whether you are male or female. Research has shown that the most accurate results are obtained by comparing your scores to TMJ patients of the same sex. Therefore, if you do not indicate your sex, the test cannot be taken.
- You will be asked a few other questions regarding your age, marital status, education, race and length of time you have been having problems. The answers to these questions are optional and your test will be scored whether or not you supply this information. Please note that your TMJ Scale Report will not contain this information. This information will be very valuable in our ongoing research and studies in trying to understand who has "TMJ" and what factors might be involved.
- The amount of time needed to complete the TMJ Scale evaluation is usually around 15-20 minutes.
- The cost of taking the TMJ Scale is $14.95. This cost is far below the usual fees charged by most dentists who use the TMJ Scale as part of their evaluation. The reason for this is that the dentist receives a much more comprehensive and complex TMJ Scale Report, that requires skill, training and considerable time for interpretation and application of the results.
- You can take the TMJ Scale Report to a dentist specializing in diagnosis and treatment of TMJ disorders.
Many such dentists already use it as a valuable aid in their work. Your dentist can contact Pain Resource Center, Inc.
at the e-mail address painres@tmjscale.com and arrange to have the comprehensive clinician's report sent to them (by e-mail,
fax or mail) for an additional fee.
- Even if the TMJ Scale results do not indicate the presence of a disorder, it is always advisable to seek out professional help if you have symptoms, worries or concerns about a problem you are experiencing.
- Although the TMJ Scale is a highly accurate and reliable assessment tool, no diagnostic test is 100% accurate. It is being used here only as a screen for the presence of a TMJ disorder. It cannot replace a thorough and comprehensive evaluation by a dentist or specialist in this area. The statements contained within the TMJ Scale report are based on statistical probabilities and therefore are suggestive rather than conclusive. No decisions or actions should be based solely on the results of this test. Pain Resource Center, Inc. is not liable to the test taker or anyone else for any decisions made or actions taken based on the results of this test or information from this website.
top ^
