Phase 2 N=79 Randomized Treatment

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD): A Whole Systems Multi-site Trial

Temporomandibular Dysfunction

Bottom Line

View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00856167 ↗

Enrolled (actual)

Serious AEs

0.0%

Results posted

Oct 2025

Primary outcome: Primary: Characteristic Facial Pain Score — 6.52; 6.55; 5.11; 5.47 units on a scale — p=0.020

Study Design & Population

Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 2
Interventions: Traditional Chinese Medicine (Combination_product); Self-care for TMD (Behavioral)
Age: Adult, Older Adult · 18+ yrs
Sex: All
Sponsor: University of Arizona
Primary completion: Jan 2010

Outcome Measures

Outcome	Result	p-value
PRIMARY Characteristic Facial Pain Score	6.52; 6.55; 5.11; 5.47; 5.34; 5.22	0.020 sig

Summary

This study sought to evaluate the benefits of different combinations of a Self Care program, involving individually targeted education and support, plus Traditional Chinese Medicine, in terms of patients' experience and outcomes in short-term follow-up (8 weeks, reported here) and long-term follow-up (18-months). The study seeks to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of different patterns of stepped care, which means different levels of care depending on patients' responses at various time-points in the study, which might be used by clinicians treating in the future.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

TMD as diagnosed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria-TMD by a trained dentist;
worst facial pain greater than 5 out of 10.

Exclusion Criteria

prior surgery for TMD;
life-threatening illnesses;
conditions that would prevent participation in trial including consumption of Chinese herbs.

View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00856167). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.