Temporomandibular Disorders: Functional Assessment, Differential Diagnosis and Interdisciplinary Management

Course Information

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are commonly encountered in dental practice and are often appropriately grouped under a broad diagnostic umbrella. From a musculoskeletal perspective, however, not all TMD presentations are the same — and different tissues and mechanisms can drive very different symptom patterns. This course introduces a functional and musculoskeletal approach to TMD assessment, designed to complement dental training and enhance interprofessional collaboration. Emphasis is placed on understanding jaw posture and movement, recognising movement control and loading issues, and differentiating between muscular, ligamentous, disc related, and joint based sources of pain and dysfunction. Participants will also explore the presentation of jaw-related headaches, learning to identify clinical features that suggest a temporomandibular contribution to head pain rather than primary headache disorders. The course is practical and clinically focused, incorporating hands-on screening techniques and clear clinical reasoning to support more informed referral decisions and coordinated care between dentists and physiotherapists. Refresh TMJ anatomy relevant to clinical presentation • Review key anatomical structures of the temporomandibular joint, including the disc, capsule, ligaments, and associated musculature • Understand anatomical relationships between the TMJ, hyoid complex, cervical spine, and neural structures 2. Understand jaw posture, movement, and functional behaviour • Recognise key features of efficient jaw posture and movement during rest and function • Understand typical ranges and sequencing of jaw motion • Identify common movement patterns associated with overload or dysfunction 3. Improve understanding of TMD differential diagnosis • Differentiate between common muscle driven, ligament driven, joint based, and disc related TMD presentations • Recognise clinical features suggestive of capsulitis, ligamentous strain, muscle overload, or disc derangement • Understand how musculoskeletal differentiation can guide management 4. Identify signs and symptoms of jaw related headaches • Recognise headache patterns commonly associated with temporomandibular and masticatory system dysfunction • Identify clinical features suggesting a jaw or cervico mandibular contribution to head pain • Distinguish jaw related headache presentations from primary headache disorders at a screening level 5. Learn basic hands on musculoskeletal screening techniques • Perform simple manual assessments of jaw posture, movement quality, and muscle tone • Apply targeted palpation of masticatory muscles, ligaments, and joint margins to support clinical reasoning • Use movement differentiation tests to assess neuromuscular control and tissue contribution • Interpret findings to inform referral and collaborative management, rather than standalone diagnosis 6. Understand physiotherapy’s role in managing TMD • Understand how physiotherapy addresses musculoskeletal contributors such as movement dysfunction, muscle tone, joint loading, and cervical involvement • Recognise when physiotherapy input may complement splint therapy or dental management • Strengthen confidence in interdisciplinary communication and coordinated patient care