Joint Synch
Joint Synch
An interactive therapeutic system designed to prevent and treat TMD.
An interactive therapeutic system designed to prevent and treat TMD.
Role:
Role:
Product designer
Product designer
Time
Time
2023
2023
Tools:
Tools:
UIUX, 3D Modeling, Prototype, User research
UIUX, 3D Modeling, Prototype, User research
Team
Team
Just me!
Just me!
PROBLEM:
PROBLEM:
Nearly 30% of the global population experience symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), yet current treatments remain uncomfortable, inaccessible, and prone to relapse.
Nearly 30% of the global population experience symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), yet current treatments remain uncomfortable, inaccessible, and prone to relapse.
SOLUTION:
SOLUTION:
Joint Sync is a smart therapeutic device that monitors jaw behavior and provides continuous physical and digital intervention for TMD prevention, treatment, and recovery.
Joint Sync is a smart therapeutic device that monitors jaw behavior and provides continuous physical and digital intervention for TMD prevention, treatment, and recovery.
HIGHLIGHTS:
HIGHLIGHTS:
Intelligent behavioral protection for jaw health
AI-powered healthcare ecosystem & Intuitive and expressive data visualization
Community-driven TMD support network
PREQUEL STORY:
PREQUEL STORY:
It's based on my personal experience, so I wanted to make a change.
It's based on my personal experience, so I wanted to make a change.
I first noticed jaw clicking during my final years of high school. It was often accompanied by headaches on one side of my head.
When I began asking people around me, I realized that many had similar symptoms. Some even experienced difficulty opening their mouths in the morning.
This condition is known as Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD). Despite affecting nearly one-third of the population, many patients struggle to find specialized treatment.
Most available advice focuses on temporary relief, such as hot compresses or pain management. Access to professional care can be particularly limited in some regions.
This raised a question:
I first noticed jaw clicking during my final years of high school. It was often accompanied by headaches on one side of my head.
When I began asking people around me, I realized that many had similar symptoms. Some even experienced difficulty opening their mouths in the morning.
This condition is known as Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD). Despite affecting nearly one-third of the population, many patients struggle to find specialized treatment.
Most available advice focuses on temporary relief, such as hot compresses or pain management. Access to professional care can be particularly limited in some regions.
This raised a question:
Why is a condition this common still so difficult to treat?
Why is a condition this common still so difficult to treat?
Eventually, I started using an occlusal splint.
But in that moment I wondered: What if TMD treatment could be as accessible as buying a digital product—something people could obtain and use easily, without navigating a complex medical system?
Eventually, I started using an occlusal splint.
But in that moment I wondered: What if TMD treatment could be as accessible as buying a digital product—something people could obtain and use easily, without navigating a complex medical system?
INITIAL RESEARCH:
INITIAL RESEARCH:
I conducted desk research, and here are several characteristics of TMD:
I conducted desk research, and here are several characteristics of TMD:
THE DILEMMA:
THE DILEMMA:
To get further understanding, I talked with subject matter experts:
To get further understanding, I talked with subject matter experts:
High recurrence rate
High recurrence rate
Even when surgical treatment succeeds, recurrence is common if behavioral factors remain unchanged.
Many of these harmful habits—such as bruxism or asymmetric chewing—are embedded in daily routines and often occur unconsciously.
Even when surgical treatment succeeds, recurrence is common if behavioral factors remain unchanged.
Many of these harmful habits—such as bruxism or asymmetric chewing—are embedded in daily routines and often occur unconsciously.
Surgical risks and sequelae
Surgical risks and sequelae
Procedures such as temporomandibular arthroscopy may lead to complications including: joint adhesions, reduced range of motion, nerve damage if surgical techniques are improper
Research suggests that prolonged occlusal splint use beyond three months may alter the vertical skeletal dimension, potentially causing mandibular displacement and airway narrowing.
Procedures such as temporomandibular arthroscopy may lead to complications including: joint adhesions, reduced range of motion, nerve damage if surgical techniques are improper
Research suggests that prolonged occlusal splint use beyond three months may alter the vertical skeletal dimension, potentially causing mandibular displacement and airway narrowing.
PATIENTS PAIN POINTS:
PATIENTS PAIN POINTS:
Most preferred conservative treatment, because once they learned that surgery might involve altering or replacing parts of the jaw joint, they tended to avoid it whenever possible.
So we discussed their experience with occlusal splints. Two major pain points emerged:
Most preferred conservative treatment, because once they learned that surgery might involve altering or replacing parts of the jaw joint, they tended to avoid it whenever possible.
So we discussed their experience with occlusal splints. Two major pain points emerged:
Physical discomfort
Physical discomfort
Typical treatment lasts around 3 months.
During this period, patients often experience:
excessive salivation
gum pain
difficulty chewing
disrupted sleep
Typical treatment lasts around 3 months.
During this period, patients often experience:
excessive salivation
gum pain
difficulty chewing
disrupted sleep
Social and aesthetic impact
Social and aesthetic impact
Splints often require patients to maintain a protruded jaw position. This affects both speech and facial appearance.
Even after treatment, relapse is common, and patients may need to repeat the process.
Splints often require patients to maintain a protruded jaw position. This affects both speech and facial appearance.
Even after treatment, relapse is common, and patients may need to repeat the process.
If the discomfort is due to physical shape of it, then what causes the recurrence of TMD?
If the discomfort is due to physical shape of it, then what causes the recurrence of TMD?
By analyzing patient stories, I mapped a patient journey, two insight became clear:
By analyzing patient stories, I mapped a patient journey, two insight became clear:
Psychological stress
Psychological stress
Increasing muscle tension during sleep
Increasing muscle tension during sleep
Unconscious / uncontrollable behavior
Unconscious / uncontrollable behavior
such as nighttime grinding and one-sided chewing, or perhaps an injury sustained during exercise.
such as nighttime grinding and one-sided chewing, or perhaps an injury sustained during exercise.
However, current treatment methods rarely address these behavioral or psychological factors.
However, current treatment methods rarely address these behavioral or psychological factors.
DESIGN CHALLENGE:
DESIGN CHALLENGE:
So after all that above,
How might we create an alternative to occlusal splints that:
So after all that above,
How might we create an alternative to occlusal splints that:
Intervenes in harmful jaw behaviors directly
Supports both physical and psychological factors
Remains comfortable and socially unobtrusive
Intervenes in harmful jaw behaviors directly
Supports both physical and psychological factors
Remains comfortable and socially unobtrusive
DESIGN PROCESS: PHYSICAL PART
DESIGN PROCESS: PHYSICAL PART
To address unconscious behaviors, a hardware solution was necessary.
To address unconscious behaviors, a hardware solution was necessary.
DESIGN PROCESS: DIGITAL PART
DESIGN PROCESS: DIGITAL PART
Visualizing oral data posed a new challenge
Visualizing oral data posed a new challenge
Multiple metaphors were explored, and the app underwent three design iterations to validate user needs and conduct user testing.
Multiple metaphors were explored, and the app underwent three design iterations to validate user needs and conduct user testing.
FINAL OUTCOME:
FINAL OUTCOME:
Introducing Joint Synch.
Introducing Joint Synch.
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
What I learned
What I learned
Many complex health problems develop their own ecosystems.
Many complex health problems develop their own ecosystems.
—such as patient communities sharing experiences online. Rather than replacing these systems, design can strengthen them.
—such as patient communities sharing experiences online. Rather than replacing these systems, design can strengthen them.
There are significant opportunities to improve the user experience of physical medical products.
There are significant opportunities to improve the user experience of physical medical products.
While ensuring medical validity remains the foundation of the design.
While ensuring medical validity remains the foundation of the design.