There is currently great interest and scholarly focus on functional and pathological alterations in the temporomandibular joint, on the part of dentists, maxillofacial surgeons and physiotherapists alike.
The last few years have seen great improvements in the field of dentistry and the clinical understanding of the evolution of its functions. Nuclear magnetic resonance has recently been introduced as a fundamental diagnostic tool, allowing for comparative studies in image and clinical exam diagnoses.
Craniomandibular dysfunction constitutes a new field for physiotherapists, and those interested in working within this area will need proper training in pathomechanics in order to understand and carry out effective physiotherapeutic treatments.
Physiotherapists will benefit greatly from gaining interdisciplinary knowledge in this new and developing field, in which there are still many areas to explore, evaluate and clarify, in order to ultimately achieve the common goal of improving the quality of life of patients suffering from temporomandibular disorders.