Dentists' Awareness in Kuwait of the Role of Physical Therapy Management of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders: A Cross-sectional Study

Background Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition characterized by temporomandibular joint dysfunction that impacts quality of life. While physical therapy is a primary conservative treatment, dentists often underutilize physical therapy referrals due to limited knowledge of its benefits in TMD management. This study aims to evaluate dentists' awareness regarding the effectiveness of physical therapy in managing TMD. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to survey licensed dentists in Kuwait using a web-based questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised 23 questions assessing the knowledge of TMD cases, the conditions of treating TMD cases and referrals, and the awareness of physical therapy role in TMD treatment in governmental hospitals in Kuwait. Results A survey of 400 dentists found that 43.7% estimated 6–25% of patients had TMD symptoms. The most common TMD condition was parafunctional habits, standing at 23.1%. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds are the common evaluation method, standing at 18.9%. Most patients presented symptoms in the acute stage 78.2%. The most common treatment was medication prescriptions, 37.3%. Further, 84% of dentists referred TMD patients to different specialties; however, 33.3% referred only 0–5% of their cases. Oral surgeons were the top referrals 57.6%. The key reason for physical therapy referrals was masticatory muscle tenderness 33.7%. The awareness of the physical therapy role stood at 49.8%, and awareness of physical therapy efficacy was at 51.0%. After the survey, 76% of the participants showed an increased likelihood of referral, and 79.5% were interested in collaboration. Conclusion Dentists in Kuwait exhibited low awareness of physical therapy benefits for TMD, leading to low referrals. However, after the survey, their willingness to refer and interest in collaboration increased, emphasizing the need for targeted collaboration strategies. Clinical trial number: not applicable.