New digital medical device supports self-management of TMD

Dental Tribune International

Wed. 4 February 2026

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NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, England: A new app designed to support patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) has recently been launched as the world’s first digital medical device dedicated to the self-management of TMD. The platform is intended to address a long-standing challenge in treating people with jaw and facial pain by helping patients apply evidence-based self-management guidance day to day with clinically informed digital tools.

From left: JawSpace directors Alexandra Penn and Prof. Justin Durham. (Image: Newcastle University)

The app, called JawSpace, was developed with input from experts at Newcastle University and draws on scientific evidence to help users better understand and manage common symptoms. According to the developers, each feature has been shaped by clinical research and patient feedback, with the aim of providing practical, accessible and high-quality self-management support. Through a guided self-assessment, users can explore their symptoms and potential contributing factors and receive a tailored self-management plan.

The newly developed JawSpace platform brings together a range of tools, including jaw exercises, relaxation techniques, thermal therapy, self-massage guidance, symptom and habit tracking, daily routines and educational resources. Daily check-ins, reminders and progress tracking are intended to help users identify patterns, recognise triggers and build healthier jaw habits over time.

Explaining the rationale for developing the app, Dr Justin Durham, professor of orofacial pain at Newcastle University and chief clinical and scientific officer at JawSpace, said: “Temporomandibular disorders affect millions of people worldwide, yet for decades, patients have faced a frustrating reality: fragmented care, inconsistent advice and a lack of practical support between clinic visits,” he said in a press release.

JawSpace is designed for use both at home and in clinical settings to support continuity of care by making evidence-based guidance usable in day-to-day life. Alexandra Penn, CEO of JawSpace, said the app addresses a long-standing gap in care for people with TMD by helping translate robust evidence into structured self-management outside the clinic. “The science has always been here; what’s been missing is a way for people to access it. We’re building the tools that should have existed long ago, so people everywhere can finally find clear, credible support,” she commented.

Hugo Dias, a physiotherapist specialising in TMD and orofacial pain, commented that JawSpace has already proved useful in his practice. “It supports the advice I discuss with my patients in clinic and gives them a clear way to engage with their self-management outside appointments,” he explained.

TMD affects approximately 30% of people worldwide and can negatively impact a person's quality of life akin to rheumatoid arthritis and depression. Evidence suggests that between 75% and 90% of patients improve with early and appropriate self-management—underscoring the importance of accessible tools beyond the dental chair.

The JawSpace app recently received the App of the Year award at the UK’s 2025 Dental Industry Awards and was shortlisted for Dental Brand of the Year and Website of the Year. More information about JawSpace is available on the company’s website.