Published 18 August 2026
Two new datasets from the Center for TMD IMPACT (C-TMD IMPACT) are now available in FaceBase. Together, they offer a view of common needs and common barriers from both sides of the clinical encounter, and a starting point for researchers and clinicians looking to collaborate on addressing TMDs.
Contributors: Yang Chai, Jian-Fu Chen, and VyVy Nguyen (University of Southern California)
Description:
During the TMD IMPACT Collaborative R34 planning phase, the Center for TMD IMPACT at the University of Southern California conducted a needs assessment to better understand the needs of patients who experience symptoms of TMD and clinicians who treat them. Both surveys were administered in 2024 and the resulting data have been de-identified for open release.
Patient Needs Assessment
Center for TMD IMPACT Patient Needs Assessment includes survey responses from 103 patients seen at the USC Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine Center between May and July 2024. The survey covered patient demographics, descriptions of symptoms, and descriptions of treatments. Patients identified six priority areas for improving TMD treatment: better coverage of treatment, faster and more immediate access to care, more frequent appointments, better information about TMD, more knowledgeable providers, and better bedside manner from clinicians.
Clinician Needs Assessment
Center for TMD IMPACT Clinician Needs Assessment includes survey responses from 17 practicing clinicians in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas who treat patients with TMDs, collected between June and August 2024. The survey covered clinician demographics, opinions on the current standard of treatment, and ideas for improving it. Clinicians pointed to three priority areas: addressing gaps in phenotyping and pain research, improving patient access to care, and improving quality of care through interdisciplinary practice, better educational curriculum and opportunities, and better technology and software.
Each dataset includes the survey response data, a data dictionary, and a PDF of the survey instrument. Both are open access under General Research Use (GRU) limitations and can be downloaded directly from FaceBase.
FaceBase Datasets:
Yang Chai, Jian-Fu Chen, VyVy Nguyen. Center for TMD IMPACT Patient Needs Assessment. FaceBase Consortium https://doi.org/10.25550/9N-634P (2026).
Yang Chai, Jian-Fu Chen, VyVy Nguyen. Center for TMD IMPACT Clinician Needs Assessment. FaceBase Consortium https://doi.org/10.25550/9N-634W (2026).