Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (857 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A variety of conditions affecting the anatomic and functional characteristics of the temporomandibular joint. Factors contributing to the complexity of temporomandibular diseases are its relation to dentition and mastication and the symptomatic effects in other areas which account for referred pain to the joint and the difficulties in applying traditional diagnostic procedures to temporomandibular joint pathology where tissue is rarely obtained and x-rays are often inadequate or nonspecific. Common diseases are developmental abnormalities, trauma, subluxation, luxation, arthritis, and neoplasia. (From Thoma's Oral Pathology, 6th ed, pp577-600)
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Disorders, Temporomandibular Joint; Disorder, Temporomandibular Joint; Joint Disorders, Temporomandibular; Joint Disorder, Temporomandibular; Temporomandibular Joint Disorder; Temporomandibular Joint Diseases; Diseases, Temporomandibular Joint; Disease, Temporomandibular Joint.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Craniomandibular Disorders; Joint Diseases; Stomatognathic Diseases
- Narrower topics
- Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 21,430 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Temporomandibular Joint Disorders” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 4,303 of them (20.1%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 8,538 records.
Reviews account for 2,823 records (13.2%) and meta-analyses for 309. Randomized controlled trials number 778 (3.6%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 8,538 |
| 2000-2009 | 3,760 |
| 2010-2019 | 4,829 |
| 2020 onward | 4,303 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 2,823 | 13.2% |
| Meta-analyses | 309 | 1.4% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 778 | 3.6% |
Method: PubMed query "Temporomandibular Joint Disorders"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in bones, joints, muscles and skin
Joint, bone, muscle and skin conditions are often judged by pain scores, function questionnaires, imaging or photographs, and symptoms can fluctuate, so placebo response and natural improvement matter. Imaging changes are common in people without symptoms. Nothing on this page is advice about treatment. Check how outcomes were measured, whether the comparison group received a placebo or usual care, and how long the benefit lasted.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global prevalence of temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis | 2025 | Meta-analysis Design not recorded in structured metadata | 53 | cc by PMID 41070533 · DOI · PMC12531580 |
| Exploring the relationship between muscle activity, jaw behaviour and pain | 2025 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 7 | cc by PMID 41057691 · DOI · PMC12504772 |
| CAT/SOD-Enriched Achyranthes bidentata nanovesicles mitigate TMJOA via ROS scavenging and JNK/FOXO1 pathway Inhibition | 2025 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 6 | cc by PMID 41430692 · DOI · PMC12723957 |
| Efficacy of prolotherapy in temporomandibular joint disorders with hypertonic dextrose and Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 3 | cc by PMID 41607324 · DOI · PMC12853155 |
Global prevalence of temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundUnderstanding the global prevalence and characteristics of a given health problem is essential for sizing its global and regional burden, estimating treatment needs, prioritizing healthcare services, and formulating targeted policies.
- Closing excerpt
- The prospero registrationPROSPERO number is CRD42024583777.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (290 words)
BackgroundUnderstanding the global prevalence and characteristics of a given health problem is essential for sizing its global and regional burden, estimating treatment needs, prioritizing healthcare services, and formulating targeted policies. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the global prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) by gender, age, and continent, and the prevalence of specific categories such as myalgia, arthralgia, clicking/joint sounds, and limited mouth opening.MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted across three databases-PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science and supplemented by manual search up to June 2024. TMD diagnoses were based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) or Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD).ResultsThe database search yielded 15,628 records, from which 27 studies involving 20,971 subjects, including 6075 diagnosed with TMDs, were selected for final analysis. All meta-analyses utilized a random effects model. It is estimated that nearly a third of the global population (29.5%) suffers from TMDs. TMDs affected females at a significantly higher rate compared to males (36.7% versus 26.7%), representing a 1.75-fold greater likelihood among females. Prevalence among individuals under 18 years of age is 38.5%, compared to 34.1% in those 18 and older. TMDs are most prevalent in Europe (33.8%), followed by Asia (27.9%) and South America (27.3%); the lowest prevalence was in North America (19.4%). The most frequently reported signs and symptoms of TMDs are myalgia (37.2%), clicking/joint sounds (29.8%), and arthralgia (16.8%), with limited mouth opening/locking being the least prevalent (8.1%).ConclusionsTMDs represent a significant and largely unrecognized health burden. Although conducting further primary studies is urgent for confirmation, this current research underscores that TMDs might constitute a silent epidemic that has not garnered the urgent attention it deserves from healthcare providers, the local community, and researchers.The prospero registrationPROSPERO number is CRD42024583777.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41070533 · DOI · PMC12531580
Exploring the relationship between muscle activity, jaw behaviour and pain [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- While muscle overload is commonly implicated in musculoskeletal pain conditions, real-time assessment of associated behavioural and physiological features is challenging.
- Closing excerpt
- Incorporating EMA in pain management can identify pain-related risk behaviours, thus supporting tailored patient-centred interventions.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (205 words)
While muscle overload is commonly implicated in musculoskeletal pain conditions, real-time assessment of associated behavioural and physiological features is challenging. This study aims to investigate the relationship between self-reported awake bruxism using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) and jaw muscle activity registered by surface electromyography (sEMG), and differences between individuals with and without temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain. Seventy participants (38 women, 32 men), of which 31% reported pain, completed 3-day EMA using a smartphone application combined with a sEMG device only for day 1. Overload, defined as muscle activity exceeding 20% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), was evaluated for duration and area under curve (AUC). A strong correlation was observed between EMA-reported bruxism and sEMG overload duration (ρ = 0.62, p < 0.001). AUC showed a correlation with EMA only in the TMD group. Participants with TMD pain exhibited shorter high-intensity bursts (60-79% MVC, p ≤ 0.005) but prolonged low-intensity muscle activity (20-39% MVC, p < 0.001). Bruxism behaviour and stress levels were higher in women and in individuals with pain. The results suggest that combining EMA and sEMG provides valid assessment of musculoskeletal overload, capturing both perceptual and physiological dimensions. Incorporating EMA in pain management can identify pain-related risk behaviours, thus supporting tailored patient-centred interventions.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41057691 · DOI · PMC12504772
CAT/SOD-Enriched Achyranthes bidentata nanovesicles mitigate TMJOA via ROS scavenging and JNK/FOXO1 pathway Inhibition [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) is an inflammatory disorder with limited treatment options.
- Closing excerpt
- Our findings demonstrate that ABNVs hold promise as a therapeutic strategy for TMJOA by targeting oxidative stress and inflammation via ROS scavenging and JNK/FOXO1 regulation.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (179 words)
Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) is an inflammatory disorder with limited treatment options. Given the key role of oxidative stress in TMJOA progression, targeting this pathway may offer therapeutic benefits. In this study, we isolated and characterized exosome-like nanovesicles from Achyranthes bidentata (ABNVs), a traditional Chinese herb known for its antioxidant properties. ABNVs exhibited an average size of 134.7 nm and a negatively charged surface (-30.32 mV), and were enriched with antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). In a rat TMJOA model, ABNVs (1 µg/mL) effectively reduced cartilage degradation, bone damage, and synovial inflammation while maintaining high biocompatibility. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that ABNVs suppressed M1 macrophage polarization. In vitro, ABNVs did not impair chondrogenic differentiation but mitigated chondrocyte inflammation. Mechanistically, ABNVs scavenged reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced macrophage inflammation through CAT/SOD-mediated ROS clearance and modulation of the JNK/FOXO1 pathway. Additionally, ABNVs indirectly enhanced chondrogenic differentiation by inhibiting M1 macrophage activation. Our findings demonstrate that ABNVs hold promise as a therapeutic strategy for TMJOA by targeting oxidative stress and inflammation via ROS scavenging and JNK/FOXO1 regulation.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41430692 · DOI · PMC12723957
Efficacy of prolotherapy in temporomandibular joint disorders with hypertonic dextrose and Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundThis study evaluated the clinical efficacy of prolotherapy using hypertonic dextrose and polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) who did not respond to conventional treatments.
- Closing excerpt
- Both hypertonic dextrose and PDRN demonstrated significant clinical improvements on TMD prolotherapy.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (183 words)
BackgroundThis study evaluated the clinical efficacy of prolotherapy using hypertonic dextrose and polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) who did not respond to conventional treatments.MethodsA retrospective chart review of 66 patients diagnosed with TMD was conducted. Patients underwent prolotherapy between March and December 2024 and were classified into soft-tissue-related and bone-related TMD groups. Treatment involved injections of hypertonic dextrose or PDRN targeting anatomical structures within the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Pain and function were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) and maximum mouth opening (MMO). Additional parameters, including joint sounds and jaw displacement (S deviation or L deflection), were analyzed. Outcomes were measured at baseline, after each prolotherapy session, and during the final follow-up. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests, McNemar's tests, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and regression modeling.ResultsProlotherapy was administered an average of 2.3 times per patient. The baseline VAS score decreased from 4.34 ± 2.12 to 1.00 ± 1.58 (p p p p ConclusionsProlotherapy is an effective intervention for improving pain and jaw function in TMD patients. Both hypertonic dextrose and PDRN demonstrated significant clinical improvements on TMD prolotherapy.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41607324 · DOI · PMC12853155
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Prevalence of temporomandibular joint disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis [5]
- Research article Gender differences in temporomandibular disorders in adult populational studies: A systematic review and meta-analysis [6]
- Research article Effectiveness of Manual Therapy and Therapeutic Exercise for Temporomandibular Disorders: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [7]
- Research article Effectiveness of occlusal splint therapy in the management of temporomandibular disorders: network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials [8]
- Research article Occlusal stabilization splint for patients with temporomandibular disorders: Meta-analysis of short and long term effects [9]
- Research article Impact of temporomandibular disorders on oral health-related quality of life: A systematic review and meta-analysis [10]
References
- Alqutaibi AY, Alhammadi MS, Hamadallah HH, Altarjami AA, Malosh OT, Aloufi AM, et al.. Global prevalence of temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. . 2025. PMID 41070533 · DOI · PMC12531580
- Stanisic N, Baram S, Nykänen L, List T, Bracci A, Svensson P, et al.. Exploring the relationship between muscle activity, jaw behaviour and pain. . 2025. PMID 41057691 · DOI · PMC12504772
- Li R, Huang Z, Kong L, Cai W, Li X, Hsieh C, et al.. CAT/SOD-Enriched Achyranthes bidentata nanovesicles mitigate TMJOA via ROS scavenging and JNK/FOXO1 pathway Inhibition. . 2025. PMID 41430692 · DOI · PMC12723957
- Choi JW, Kim YK, Yun PY, Ku JK. Efficacy of prolotherapy in temporomandibular joint disorders with hypertonic dextrose and Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN). . 2026. PMID 41607324 · DOI · PMC12853155
- Valesan LF, Da-Cas CD, Réus JC, Denardin ACS, Garanhani RR, Bonotto D, et al.. Prevalence of temporomandibular joint disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Oral Investig. 2021. PMID 33409693 · DOI
- Bueno CH, Pereira DD, Pattussi MP, Grossi PK, Grossi ML. Gender differences in temporomandibular disorders in adult populational studies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Oral Rehabil. 2018. PMID 29851110 · DOI
- Armijo-Olivo S, Pitance L, Singh V, Neto F, Thie N, Michelotti A. Effectiveness of Manual Therapy and Therapeutic Exercise for Temporomandibular Disorders: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Phys Ther. 2016. PMID 26294683 · DOI · PMC4706597
- Al-Moraissi EA, Farea R, Qasem KA, Al-Wadeai MS, Al-Sabahi ME, Al-Iryani GM. Effectiveness of occlusal splint therapy in the management of temporomandibular disorders: network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2020. PMID 31982236 · DOI
- Kuzmanovic Pficer J, Dodic S, Lazic V, Trajkovic G, Milic N, Milicic B. Occlusal stabilization splint for patients with temporomandibular disorders: Meta-analysis of short and long term effects. PLoS One. 2017. PMID 28166255 · DOI · PMC5293221
- Qamar Z, Alghamdi AMS, Haydarah NKB, Balateef AA, Alamoudi AA, Abumismar MA, et al.. Impact of temporomandibular disorders on oral health-related quality of life: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Oral Rehabil. 2023. PMID 37078711 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.