Clinical research progress in multidisciplinary collaborative diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2026.04.013

Abstract

Abstract:

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) affect 5%‒12% of the global population, significantly impairing orofacial health and overall quality of life. Currently, no consensus exists regarding multidisciplinary management protocols for these patients, and the joint-jaw-occlusion multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment model—a collaborative approach involving temporomandibular joint specialists, orthodontists, and orthognathic surgeons—has attracted increasing attention in recent years. As a commonly employed conservative treatment, functional splints demonstrate significant short-term efficacy in patients with early-to-moderate TMD, although their long-term stability remains to be verified. Temporomandibular joint surgery and orthognathic surgery can effectively restore temporomandibular joint function and correct jaw deformities in patients with moderate-to-advanced TMD, whereas the impact of orthognathic surgery on the temporomandibular joint requires further investigation. For patients with complex TMD accompanied by (skeletal) malocclusion, the joint-jaw-occlusion collaborative diagnosis and treatment model enables personalized interventions through multidisciplinary management: functional splints adjust the disc-condyle relationship, orthodontic treatment eliminates occlusal interferences, and surgical treatment restores the structure and function of the joint and jaw. Meanwhile, individualized treatment plans should be formulated based on patients' growth and developmental potential, aiming to promote the long-term stability of the three-dimensional relationship among the joint, jaw, and occlusion with minimal trauma. This review aims to provide a reference for the multidisciplinary evaluation and personalized management of patients with TMD in clinical practice.

Key words: temporomandibular disorders (TMD), functional splint, temporomandibular joint surgery, orthognathic surgery, orthodontic treatment, multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment

CLC Number:

R782.6

Liu Li, Fan Haixia, Geng Haixia. Clinical research progress in multidisciplinary collaborative diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science), 2026, 46(4): 529-536.

TrendMD

References 68

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