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Tracy Hampton, PhD

JAMA. 2008;299(10):1119-1121.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Clicking, popping, locking, and pain in the jaw are all potential symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), as are headaches, ear pain, malocclusions, and a number of other problems that can significantly interfere with daily living. But these wide-ranging and potentially debilitating symptoms are only one aspect of TMDs with which patients struggle. Patients also face significant hurdles concerning access to care because many insurance plans do not cover treatments for these conditions or they put significant limits on coverage. In addition, experts say TMDs are underrecognized among physicians and dentists, leading to inaccurate diagnoses and improper care.

With diagnostic and therapeutic standards lacking for temporomandibular disorders, more research, greater awareness, and better health coverage are needed, experts say.

"Lack of recognition and proper treatment costs tens of thousands of dollars in unnecessary treatments for many patients because therapies that are evidence-based are not covered," said James Fricton, . . . [Full Text of this Article]

TMD BIOLOGY