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Decision-making for temporomandibular disorders TMDs is reported being a clinical challenge, partly due to uncertainities in assessment of long-term prognosis. Therefore, our aim was to explore variations over time in TMD symptoms and possible sex or age differences. The rate of transitions was estimated between TMD states within a time span of one year.
A total of 94, individuals were included The finding of a poorer prognosis in women, as well as previously reported potential gender differences in pain perception and reporting, reinforces that gender differences should be accounted for in the treatment planning stage for patients with onset of TMDs.
With a prevalence of approximately ten percent in the general population, orofacial pain, including TMD pain, is one of the most common chronic pains 4 , 5. There are however other clinical signs related to TMDs, for example joint sounds, restricted mouth opening and pain on palpation. As such, clinical signs of TMDs can be even more common than the symptoms evaluated in the present study.
The prevalence of TMDs increases during adolescence, is highest among working-aged individuals, is less frequent in the older adults, and is higher in women across all age groups 5 , 6 , 7.
