Dr. Eric Schiffman is the Study Principal Investigator for the NIH/NIDCR funded prospective observational study: Management of Painful Temporomandibular Disorders. This study was done in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (U19-DE-22516).

In this study, practitioners provided what they believed were the best treatment for their patients with TMD pain. Practitioners completed a questionnaire at baseline and at 6 months after the patients’ treatment had been initiated. At baseline, the practitioners provided information on their patients’ diagnosis, recommended treatment and factors that contributed to their treatment recommendations. At 6-months, the practitioners reported on whether their patients had returned since the start of treatment, and if yes, if the diagnoses or treatments had changed as well as their perspective on the patients’ outcome and adherence with treatments. Patients at the start of treatment provided information on their complaints and potential prognostic factors. Patients completed follow-up questionnaires at 1, 3 and 6 months since the start of treatment that monitored the course of their TMD pain and jaw function, and their adherence to recommended treatments.

Dr. Schiffman will summary the study outcomes based on these learning objectives:
1) Identify practitioner- and patient-based factors that contribute to practitioners’ treatment decisions for patients with TMD pain.
2) Identify factors that contribute to patients’ adherence to treatment.
3) Describe observed changes from baseline in patients’ pain intensity and jaw function associated with TMD treatment at 1-, 3- and 6-month follow-ups.