An estimated 10 million Americans are affected by temporomandibular joint disorders, with women most often affected, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

In a new Spear Study Club module, “Should This Patient's TMJ Be Imaged?,” Dr. Jim McKee highlights the case of a 40-year-old female patient who has pain in her right jaw joint and a changing bite. He discusses when to consider joint imaging for moderate- to high-risk patients and how to recognize these patients in clinical practice.

“This is a common question today, since we know many jaw joints are much more frequently injured than we thought in the past,” said Dr. McKee, a Spear Resident Faculty member who maintains a private practice in the Chicago area.

“This module will address some of the issues that should be considered when we are thinking about obtaining temporomandibular joint imaging,” he said.

By watching the “Should This Patient's TMJ Be Imaged?” module, clinicians can learn treatment options, how TMJ imaging with MRI and CBCT impacts the treatment planning process and the benefits of imaging when helping a patient make treatment decisions.

The new module will leave Study Club members more confident in their ability to:

• Review three common types of TMJ conditions
• Discuss two main reasons to consider TMJ imaging
• Describe the benefits of MRI and CBCT imaging
• Identify moderate- to high-risk patients
• Relate treatment options for patients with injured TMJ