Maxillofacial Surgeon Ross Elledge brings together cutting-edge technology, patient empowerment, and global medical expertise in new TMD-focused digital tool, XEDAQ

Birmingham, UK | 5 Jun 2025 – A new digital health app is aiming to transform the way millions of people manage chronic facial pain caused by temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), thanks to the vision of University of Malta alumnus and Maltese Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon, Mr Ross Elledge.

Developed under Elledge Informatics Limited, XEDAQ (pronounced ‘zed-ack’ but inspired by the Maltese word) is a first-of-its-kind mobile platform designed to support individuals living with TMD, a condition affecting up to one-third of the global population. Symptoms can range from jaw locking, difficulty chewing, and chronic pain to anxiety and depression, yet patients often receive little more than one-off advice and are left to navigate their recovery alone.

XEDAQ seeks to fill that gap by offering ongoing, evidence-based guidance for conservative self-management – such as physiotherapy, diet modifications, and stress management – while fostering long-term, informed dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals.

“At Elledge Informatics, we believe patients should be partners in their own health journey,” Elledge said. “We designed XEDAQ as a tool to give them a voice, sustained support, and access to reliable information – empowering them to actively shape their recovery rather than feel dismissed or isolated.”

A graduate of the University of Malta’s dental school, Mr Elledge retains important family and professional links in Malta and is a regular visitor to the islands. “Using the Maltese word for jaw – xedaq – was somewhat irresistible for me,” Elledge said.

Elledge, who attended St Aloysius College, was top of his University of Malta graduate class in 2003, and worked for the national health service in Malta before relocating to the United Kingdom. In 2006 he completed the Membership of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. In 2010 he completed an accelerated medical degree with distinction and was awarded the Sir Arthur Thomson Gold Medal and the Chancellor’s Prize, for outstanding achievement and contributions to the general life of the University of Birmingham.

His career has since spanned the UK’s most prestigious hospitals, earning distinctions in both medicine and education. Today, he is one of the UK’s few surgeons performing the full remit of TMJ surgeries, including custom joint replacements.

He holds the post of Consultant in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

His commitment to innovation in patient care is matched by a strong academic foundation, combined with years of experience treating thousands of patients, which shaped the development of XEDAQ – not just as a digital product, but as a response to a human need.

“Technology can’t replace clinicians – but it can radically enhance how care is delivered,” Elledge explains. “With smartphones in nearly every pocket, patients now have the power to take charge of their own health. XEDAQ is our way of making that possible, ethically and effectively.”

About Elledge Informatics Limited

Founded in 2023, Elledge Informatics is a clinician-led digital health company developing tools that bridge the gap between episodic care and everyday support. Its flagship project, XEDAQ, is designed to serve the needs of those suffering from temporomandibular disorders through accessible, evidence-based, self-guided management.

About XEDAQ

The XEDAQ app acts as a daily support mechanism for TMJ with features that help patients navigate the ups and downs of living with chronic jaw pain and dysfunction including: - Short videos, audio files and articles for information;

– Simple questionnaires for scoring symptoms on a day-to-day basis;

– Validate questionnaires to assessing patients’ pain, jaw issues and associated mood;

– An ability to store this information to guide consultations;

– Information to put patients in the driving seat when speaking to healthcare professionals about your TMJ issue;

– Expert listings for specialists near patients  XEDAQ is not a TMD cure or treatment. Whilst XEDAQ is designed to help reduce the impact of TMD, it should not be used as a substitute for, or replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your TMJ issues or health in general, you should always consult with your doctor. Terms of Use can be found at https://elledgeinformatics.com/legal.html