We wish to thank the many
people who have helped us make 2001 a banner year for JJAMD. We deeply appreciate the efforts and support
of those who have provided in-kind services and advice, and for those patients
who have filled out the TMJ surveys on this website and have shared their
stories with others, and for future appropriate research from the Patients’
Perspective.
1. TUFTS MEDICAL/DENTAL
SCHOOL, NEW ENGLAND MEDICAL CENTER, FAULKNER HOSPITAL, AND MASSACHUSETTS
GENERAL HOSPITAL are continuing their interdisciplinary educational and
clinical programs with lectures, grand rounds, and patient studies. Programs cover TMJ and allied and
overlapping disorders as well as chronic pain disorders. There is a multidisciplinary participation
among physicians, researchers, dentists, other clinicians, and JJAMD as patient
advocates.
In addition to these
semi-weekly programs, seminars are being planned at a number of New England
Hospitals to be tied in with JJAMD’S Congressional Proclamation announcing “Jaw
Joints - TMJ Awareness Month.”tm
2. JJAMD met with the dean of Harvard
Medical School on May 30th to urge that TMJ be covered
specifically in the medical education curriculum. We received a response from the dean and a subsequent follow-up
from Dean of Education Dr. Lowenstein indicating that there is some hope for
more specific TMJ education in curriculum revisions that are now taking
place. We plan to continue follow-up
efforts, as Harvard is looked to for leadership in medical education around the
world.
3. We are gratified with the continued interest by SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY’S HEALTH COMMITTEE. We met the Senator briefly at a Health
Affairs lecture he gave and renewed our connection with TMJ. Meanwhile, our Washington liaison person has
been active with staff persons on our behalf.
4.
There
is a definite shift in the attention to TMJ by the NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DENTAL AND CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH [NIDCR] since
Dr, Lawrence A. Tabak took over the directorship. JJAMD met with Dr. Tabak and his key staff members on May 31,
2001. As a result of this meeting we
are officially included in THE TMD
INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP [TMDIWG]. This group, founded and chaired by
NIDCR contains members from various NIH Institutes and government and
non-government agencies as well as TMJ patient advocacy groups. Its purpose is to promote greater
interdisciplinary attention to TMJ and also serves to provide health
promotion.
We
also developed a good straightforward relationship with the Institute and the
staff, which will stand us in good stead in the future. Finally we were invited to speak with Dr.
Tabak whenever we feel it is desirable.
Dr. Tabak contacted us
subsequently to have a meeting to inform us about some specific future
initiatives. Instead of going to
Washington, we arranged a NIDCR/JJAMD conference call on Dec 17, 2001 with Dr.
Tabak, Dr. N. Braveman – his Special Assistant for TMJ, and Ms. W. Liffers,
Chief of Programs. We had 13
Boston-based physicians, dentists, insurers, researchers, our Senate liaison
person, and others on the Boston end. A
wide range of issues was discussed.
Most importantly, NIDCR committed itself to developing a comprehensive
body-wide TMJ Patient Registry, separate and apart from an ongoing TMJ Implant
Registry. This is particularly
significant, because it will also register allied and related and overlapping
disorders, with which virtually all TMJ patients suffer.
On Health Promotion & Prevention, which is at the core
of JJAMD’s mission, both Dr. Tabak and Dr. Braveman subsequently offered their
personal participation at future JJAMD conferences.
.
We were told that TMJ is now, on the “Front Burner” and next year, TMJ will be a primary focus of the Institute.
Also, there will be much more interaction with other NIH Institutes. To illustrate this point, these are the relevant TMJ excerpts from the DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATION BILL, 2002.] This is critically important for TMJ patients, as the mystery of TMJ will be unlocked only by the coordinated efforts of research in all aspects of this devastating disorder – a job that will require the intervention of multiple NIH Institutes along with the extramural research community.
DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATION BILL, 2002
Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ)- The Committee recognizes
that the problems associated with temporomandibular diseases and disorders
involve many Institutes and Centers, including the National Institute of Dental
and Craniofacial Research, the National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and
Bioengineering. The Committee calls on the Office of the Director to coordinate
cross-cutting research by the various Institutes and Centers and provide a
report directly to the Committee by April 1, 2002, on TMJ initiatives begun in fiscal year 2001 or scheduled to
begin in fiscal year 2002. In
addition, a Special Emphasis Panel should be established to review applications
in the multiple disciplines applied to studies of the causes, manifestations
and treatments of temporomandibular diseases and disorders.
Temporomandibular
joint disorders (TMJ)- The Committee urges NIAID to put a
greater focus in its research portfolio on TMJ patients and autoimmune and
inflammatory processes. The collection of tissue samples from TMJ patients and
people without TMJ disease has been suggested (as part of a patient registry)
to determine whether inflammatory mediators, growth factors, cytokines and
other cell and molecular factors affecting immunity may differ between people
with and without TMJ disease.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
BIOMEDICAL IMAGING AND BIOENGINEERING
Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ)- The Committee is aware
that the research portfolio on temporomandibular diseases and disorders has
extensively studied psychological and behavioral factors in the etiology or
chronicity of TMJ diseases and disorders. The Committee urges the Institute to
broaden its scientific base for TMJ research by putting greater emphasis on
basic and clinical research on normal and abnormal structural and functional
features of the joint and related structures, using the tools of cell and
molecular biology as well as advanced imaging techniques.
Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ)- The Institute is urged to
increase research on unique features of the temporomandibular joint as well as
exploring to what extent TM disorders share common pathogenic mechanisms with
fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis.
NATIONAL
INSTITUTE OF DENTAL AND CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH
Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ)- The Committee is aware
that the research portfolio on temporomandibular diseases and disorders
includes extensive studies on the psychological and behavioral factors in the
etiology or chronicity of TMJ diseases and disorders. The Committee urges the
Institute to broaden its scientific base for TMJ research by putting greater
emphasis on basic and clinical research on normal and abnormal structural and
functional features of the joint and related structures, using the tools of
cell and molecular biology as well as advanced imaging techniques. The Committee
expects NIDCR to collaborate on this research with the National Institute of
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute of Biomedical
Imaging and Bioengineering
5. BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MASSACHUSETTS [BCBSMA] has formally
implemented the new TMJ Medical Policy, which is working well on behalf of TMJ
patients who are treated by qualified providing practitioners. We believe that this policy, which covers a
number of procedures other than surgery, is the first in the country. We hope other health plans will adopt
similar policies. In addition the
Patient Survey that Blue Cross experts have designed has been upgraded and
almost ready to be placed on line
6. THE FORSYTH INSTITUTE, with whom we have been associated for many
years, is now initiating an oral care program for underserved children. They will include TMJ in their screening and
health promotion
7. JJAMD’s web site is constantly accessed. This has been of great help to us, because it has allowed us to
do more networking, attending health conferences, and TMJ Patient
advocating. JJAMD’s web site has freed
us from endless paperwork and membership.
There will be physical changes to the website in 2002 as we experiment
with new graphics, access blocks and music to accompany the messages. In addition our popular “TMJ Roadmap”
section will have to be updated to include changes due to the advances listed
in this Current News update.
Please continue to check in for Current News.