[Recommendations for practitioners managing temporomandibular pain : On the shortcomings of a physician list].

Authors

Jens Christoph Türp, Gerd Antes

Published in

Schmerz (Berlin, Germany). Oct 15, 2026. Epub Oct 15, 2026.

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) affect nearly 4% of the population in Germany. Temporomandibular pain is the main clinical manifestation and requires guideline-based diagnosis and management. The Stern Physician List 2026 is intended to help patients identify qualified healthcare providers. This study examined whether orthodontists listed as offering TMD therapy provide evidence-based care for TMD patients.
Websites of all orthodontists mentioned in the 2026 list with the designation "TMD therapy" were systematically analyzed. Information on symptoms, etiology, diagnosis, and therapy was evaluated against the guidelines of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain.
Of 104 orthodontists, 70 (67%) reported offering TMD therapy, but only 32 websites (46%) provided relevant information. Most content deviated from current evidence. Occlusal factors were frequently presented as the primary cause, while history-taking and psychosocial assessment were not addressed.
The self-reported TMD therapy designation does not indicate provider qualification or guidelines adherence. The analyzed websites showed substantial discrepancies from evidence-based care standards and may contribute to over-, under-, or mistreatment. Unverified self-report information should therefore be omitted from such lists.

PMID:
42878859
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 16 Oct 2026.

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