21/05/2026
Chronic facial pain in women is still too often underestimated.
Jaw pain, headaches, facial tension, neck discomfort, or clicking sounds are frequently attributed to stress, anxiety, or temporary muscular tension — while underlying temporomandibular disorders (TMD) may remain undiagnosed for years.
Our recent pilot study, “Ultrasound examination of asymmetry in temporomandibular disorders”, explored whether ultrasonography could provide a standardized, non-invasive, radiation-free, and cost-effective method for assessing anatomical asymmetry in the temporomandibular joint and masticatory muscles.
The topic is inherently multidisciplinary, involving dentistry, maxillofacial surgery, radiology, otolaryngology, rehabilitation, and pain medicine. Yet patients often experience fragmented diagnostic pathways before receiving appropriate evaluation.
One of the most important aspects of ultrasound is its preventive potential:
✔ radiation-free
✔ repeatable
✔ patient-friendly
✔ accessible for long-term follow-up and early recognition
As women are disproportionately affected by chronic facial pain conditions, improving early and objective diagnostics is not only a technological challenge, but also part of a broader conversation about women’s health, diagnostic equity, and patient-centered care.
Further studies are needed, but we hope this work contributes to earlier recognition and safer, more accessible diagnostic pathways in temporomandibular disorders.
