Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Publication Date

9-13-2025

Journal

Journal of Pain

DOI

10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105560

PMID

40953762

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are complex conditions characterized by orofacial pain and dysfunction, affecting a significant portion of the population. TMDs may involve joint and/or muscle pain, dysfunction (e.g., noise, limited or altered jaw movements), or both, leading to a marked decrease in quality of life. Patients often experience functional limitations that hinder eating, speaking, and daily activities. Additionally, TMDs are frequently associated with psychological distress, including anxiety and depression, which further impacts overall well-being. Despite the profound individual and societal impact of TMDs, effective therapies remain elusive, partly due to deficiencies in translational research. A primary limitation in the TMD field is the scarcity of animal models that accurately replicate disease features in humans. This may ultimately be due to species differences, but likely also reflects the etiological and symptomatic heterogeneities of TMDs, as there are over 30 different conditions in this umbrella term. Both factors pose a significant challenge in developing and using animal models for TMD research. This review highlights preclinical TMD research to enhance clinical care, focusing on anatomy/physiology, pain and behavior models, functional and tissue modeling, biopsychosocial factors, and technological considerations. The "TMD Research Community" collaborated to produce this review, with the Discussion offering a proposal for a path forward.

Keywords

Biomechanics, Biopsychosocial model, Orofacial pain, Preclinical models, Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)

Published Open-Access

yes

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