7th Asia-Euro Symposium on TMJ Concludes Successfully in Bangkok

Three-day congress marks historic milestone with inaugural IATMJ inauguration and world-first VR simulation training in TMJ endoscopic surgery

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The 7th Asia-Euro Symposium on Advancement in Treatment Strategies for TMJ and Related Musculoskeletal Diseases concluded today at the Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, following three days of cutting-edge scientific exchange that drew more than 400 participants from Germany, Spain, Austria, Canada, Chile, China, India, Brazil, Egypt, Oman, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and beyond.

Hosted by Mahidol University's Faculty of Dentistry and co-hosted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Ninth People's Hospital and the International Medical College (IMC) at Dresden University of Technology, the congress set a new benchmark for scientific rigour and hands-on clinical training in the TMJ field.

Days 1 and 2 delivered a comprehensive scientific programme spanning the full spectrum of contemporary TMJ management. Leading international faculty addressed surgical decision-making, condylar fracture management, endoscope-assisted intraoral surgery, novel TMJ prosthesis design, simultaneous TMJ replacement with orthognathic surgery, condylar dynamics, distraction osteogenesis, and five-dimensional holistic care concepts — collectively underscoring the interdependence of joint function, skeletal morphology, and occlusal stability across multidisciplinary clinical contexts.

Day 3 marked the inaugural delivery of a structured Endoscopic TMJ Surgical Training Program — the first of its kind at an international TMJ congress. Trainees progressed systematically from foundational triangulation skills, instrument control, and disc repositioning techniques using simulation models, to full procedural workflows on a whole-head anatomical model under near-clinical conditions. Presented in collaboration with RiGS, the program also introduced the first-ever Virtual Reality TMJ surgical simulation system at an international congress, enabling dynamic 3D anatomical visualization, immersive procedural practice, and interactive reinforcement of surgical memory in a reproducible, risk-free setting. The overwhelmingly positive response from participants underscored a growing demand for structured, technology-driven surgical education in the TMJ field. Organizers have indicated that the simulation training framework will be further developed and incorporated into future congress programs as a core component of IATMJ's commitment to advancing global surgical standards.

The day further featured live TMJ arthroscopic surgery and total joint replacement demonstrations, followed by an advanced cadaver course at the Faculty of Science in which 22 participants practiced TMJ endoscopic surgical techniques on fresh cadavers under the direct guidance of renowned Prof. Chi Yang — providing an unparalleled opportunity for surgeons to consolidate operative skills in an authentic anatomical environment.

On the opening evening, the International Association of Temporomandibular Joint (IATMJ) was formally inaugurated, with Prof. Chi Yang elected as Founding President, Prof. Julio Acero Sanz and Prof. Ajoy Roychoudhury as Vice-Presidents, and Prof. Ulrich Joos conferred the title of Honorary Founding President. Uniting 35 founding members drawn from 15 countries across four regions, the IATMJ marks a defining moment for the field — the birth of a global home for interdisciplinary TMJ medicine.

The congress drew strong industry support from gold sponsors including Karl Storz Endoskope, Smith & Nephew, KLS Martin Group, Osseolabs, RiGS, Device Innovation, and Arthrex.