Ep.76, “All TMJ Patients Are NUTS”… Here’s What That Really Means, Dr. Jamison Spencer
ASAP Pathway: THE PODCASTShow Notes
📝 In this episode of ASAP Pathway, hosts Drs. Stacy, Michelle, and Tracey are joined by a highly respected leader in the field of TMJ and dental sleep medicine, Dr. Jamison Spencer. With nearly three decades of experience treating over 25,000 patients, Dr. Spencer brings a powerful and paradigm-shifting perspective to a topic many dentists avoid: temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ). Why are TMJ patients often labeled as “difficult”? Why do so many clinicians feel unprepared to treat them? And perhaps most importantly—are we sending patients to surgery when we don’t have to? This conversation dives deep into the gaps in dental education, the misunderstood progression of TMJ dysfunction (from clicking to locking). Dr. Spencer challenges long-held beliefs and introduces emerging, non-surgical approaches—like platelet-rich fibrin (PRF)—that are changing outcomes for even the most complex cases. The discussion also connects TMJ to airway, growth and development, and early intervention in children—highlighting why dentists play a central role in both prevention and long-term health outcomes. This is more than a clinical conversation—it’s a call to rethink how we diagnose, treat, and truly understand TMJ.
About Dr Jamison Spencer
Learn Adult Dental Sleep Medicine and TMJ Therapy: The Spencer Study Club
⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 — Intro + ASAP Pathway welcome 00:29 — Meet Dr. Jameson Spencer 03:07 — Spencer Study Club + TMJ education 04:14 — Why dentists avoid TMJ patients 06:38 — “All TMJ patients are nuts” explained 07:28 — The problem with dental education on TMJ 08:23 — The dangerous gap: do nothing vs surgery 08:56 — PRF: A game changer in TMJ treatment 10:02 — Why surgery often makes TMJ worse 11:12 — Patients flying in to avoid surgery 12:26 — Why PRF works (and why it’s different) 13:19 — Peptides, exosomes, and regenerative medicine 14:51 — Dentistry vs medicine: prevention vs sick care 16:20 — Why most TMJ surgeries can be avoided 17:48 — What patients actually care about: pain + function 19:57 — Can joints actually heal? (Shocking cases) 21:37 — “That’s not possible”… but it is 23:15 — Why surgeons don’t want to do TMJ surgery 24:54 — You can always do surgery later 26:00 — TMJ, airway, and anatomy connection 27:28 — Early signs: what to look for in kids 28:06 — Disc displacement explained simply 29:06 — Why orthodontics may trigger TMJ symptoms 30:03 — The bite is the dictator 31:08 — Why the body prioritizes survival over structure 32:12 — Clicking → locking progression 33:14 — The biggest misconception about jaw clicking 34:32 — Why dentists misunderstand TMJ anatomy 35:33 — Ignoring the disc = ignoring the problem 36:24 — Why anatomy must be respected in treatment 37:46 — Why temporary fixes don’t last 39:00 — Occlusion vs muscles vs joints: what really matters 40:25 — TMJ and airway connection in kids 41:10 — Growth implications of disc displacement 42:03 — Rethinking orthodontics and jaw position 43:00 — Why changing anatomy matters long-term 44:20 — Treatment philosophy: options, not dogma
🧠 Key Learnings TMJ patients are often misunderstood—not difficult. Most dentists are not properly trained to diagnose or treat TMJ. Patients are too often pushed toward surgery too quickly. There are effective non-surgical options for TMJ treatment. Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) is emerging as a powerful treatment tool. Patient outcomes should be measured by pain relief and function—not just imaging. The bite (occlusion) plays a major role in TMJ health. Jaw clicking is a sign of disc displacement—not something to ignore. When clicking “goes away,” the condition may actually be getting worse. Ignoring joint anatomy can lead to long-term damage and dysfunction. Early signs of TMJ issues can be identified in children. Dentists play a critical role in both treating and preventing TMJ disorders. This is the ASAP Pathway Podcast, Airway, Sleep, and Pediatric Pathway, where sleep and airway health tak
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