Awareness of dentists about the role of physiotherapy in temporomandibular joint disorders

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Temporomandibular joint is a synovial joint responsible for the movement of the mandible, allowing the opening and closing of the mouth. Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) refers to the dysfunction of this joint, involving various factors and pathologies in the orofacial region. Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in the treatment of TMD by effectively reducing pain and improving TMD symptoms. However, not all dentists recognize the importance of collaborating with physiotherapists (PTs). Therefore, it is necessary to assess dentists’ awareness regarding the role of PTs in treating TMD. AIMS: This study aims to identify dentists’ level of awareness about the role of physiotherapy in TMD treatment and their willingness to collaborate with PTs in managing TMD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online survey was conducted among 106 dentists using a self-administered questionnaire on Google Forms. Students pursuing bachelor of dental surgery were excluded from the study and those with more than 25 years of experience were excluded. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, and descriptive analysis was performed using pie charts and bar diagrams. RESULTS: The study revealed that 78% of dentists were aware of the role of PTs in treating TMD patients, but only 40% of dentists referred TMD patients to PTs. In addition, 71.7% of dentists expressed interest in referring TMD patients to PTs, and 80% of dentists were interested in learning more about the benefits of collaborating with PTs in treating TMD. CONCLUSION: While a significant percentage of dentists in the survey were aware of the role of PTs in treating TMD, the rate of referral to PTs was low. This highlights the need to educate dentists about the role of PTs in treating TMD patients and encourage them to refer TMD patients for multidisciplinary rehabilitation.