Knowledge and Attitude of Dentists towards Physical Therapy for the Management of Temporomandibular Disorders

Abstract

Aim and Objective- Physical therapy (PT) has been shown to be one of the most successful conservative therapies for Temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The significance of collaborating with physical therapists in the management of TMD pain is not recognized by all dentists. So, the research was planned to find out how much dentists in Pune (Maharashtra) have knowledge about the benefits of physical therapy for TMD pain and to raise awareness about collaborations.

Material and Method- The research was conducted using an online questionnaire and the complete knowledge and information on patient referral were presented per dentist.

Results- The survey was completed by 256 dentists. Before the study, 41% of dentists were unaware that PTs would help patients with TMD. In comparison to other specialties, oral surgeons and orthodontists had knowledge of PT. Following the study, 81 % of dentists said they were more likely to refer their patients of TMD to PT, and 80 % said they wanted to learn more about the advantages of collaborations.

Conclusion- This research demonstrates that dentists in Pune are unaware of the advantages of physical therapy for TMD care. This research increased the understanding of benefits of a multidisciplinary approach in Pune dental professional.