Millions of people all over the world suffer from complaints such as tinnitus, dizziness, back pain or tension - and yet cannot find a clear diagnosis. What many do not know: There may be a single, often overlooked cause behind all these symptoms - craniomandibular dysfunction, or TMD for short.
With my book "TMD - The forgotten problem of modern medicine" I would like to start right here: I explain what TMD is, how it manifests itself, why it is so difficult to recognize - and how those affected can finally achieve greater clarity and quality of life.
What is TMD anyway?
TMD stands for "Temporomandibular Disorder" - a term from holistic dentistry that describes a dysregulation in the interaction between the temporomandibular joints, muscles, teeth and nervous system.
This dysfunction is often caused by:
- Misaligned teeth or bite deviations
- unfavorable jaw positions
- Chronic stress and the associated teeth grinding (bruxism)
- Poor posture and muscular imbalances
The special thing about it: TMD is not limited to the oral cavity. It can affect the entire body via muscle chains, fascia, nerve connections and body statics - from the temporomandibular joint to the pelvic floor.
Symptoms - varied and often misclassified
TMD can manifest itself in a variety of symptoms. The most common symptoms are
- Tinnitus, dizziness, pressure in the ear
- Headaches, migraines, concentration problems
- Jaw clicking, teeth grinding, jaw joint pain
- Neck and back pain
- Pelvic obliquity, leg length discrepancies
- Chronic tension in the shoulder or hip area
- Groin discomfort, hemorrhoids, digestive problems
What surprises many people is that non-specific complaints such as inner restlessness, anxiety or sleep disorders can also be caused or exacerbated by TMD.
My personal story
I myself searched for answers for around two years. I saw doctors, alternative practitioners, osteopaths - and yet many of my symptoms remained unclear:
- Two hernia operations
- Two hemorrhoid operations
- Chronic back pain
- Massive tension
- Postural damage
- Diffuse complaints for which no one could find a cause
It took a holistic dentist to turn things around. He recognized that my jaw was massively out of alignment - and that this malocclusion was affecting the entire body via the muscle and fascia chains. Since starting my splint therapy in 2022, my posture has stabilized significantly. The connections suddenly became clear to me: all the complaints were connected - and they originated in the jaw.
Why TMD is so often overlooked
The main problem with TMD is not the treatment - but the lack of diagnosis. Because:
- TMD does not clearly belong to one specialty
- Most dentists only look at teeth, not body statics
- Many orthopaedists only see the symptoms, not the muscular connections
- Patients are sent from specialist to specialist - without a networked view
So far, there are only a few dentists in Germany who have comprehensive knowledge of TMD and work holistically. If you are lucky, you will eventually end up with an osteopath who recognizes the overall picture - but it often takes years before this happens.
What you can do if you are affected
If you suffer from chronic complaints - especially in the area of:
- Back
- Basin
- Pine
- Neck
- or recurring groin problems -
... then you should also consider the jaw as a possible cause.
I recommend the following steps:
- See a holistic dentist who offers TMD analysis and splint therapy
- Osteopathic measurement and diagnosis to check the body statics
- Stress management, e.g. through self-reflection, breathing techniques or support with small amounts of lithium (as described in the book)
- Train self-observation - e.g. via a diary, AI-supported reflection or physical feedback
A book for everyone who has felt misunderstood for years
"TMD - The forgotten problem of modern medicine" is not a typical guidebook. It is a combination of personal experience, medical background knowledge and concrete suggestions for action - for anyone who is affected themselves or wants to support others.
I show how TMD develops, how it works, how to recognize it - and how the body can be understood as a whole. The tone is calm, understandable and encouraging. Without scaremongering, without dogma - but with a clear view of what is often overlooked.
Book information
📖 Title: TMD - Das vergressene Problem der modernen Medizin
🌍 English title: TMD - The Forgotten Problem of Modern Medicine
✍️ Author: Markus Schall
🏢 Publisher: M. Schall Verlag
📚 Scope: approx. 202 pages
📦 Format: Softcover
🛒 Availability: in bookstores, at Amazon, Thalia, BoD and many more.
🔗 Website for the book: https://schall-verlag.de
Survey on CMD symptoms
Taking TMD seriously - and understanding the body as a unit again
TMD is not rare. It is only rarely recognized. If you have been suffering from complaints for years that no one can classify, you should definitely include the jaw in your considerations.
Perhaps "TMD - The forgotten problem of modern medicine" exactly the book you were missing to discover the common thread in your own story.