Differential Associations of TMJ Disc Displacement and Muscle Disorders With Pain, Function, and Quality of Life in Temporomandibular Disorders

Published on April 7, 2026

Cranio. 2026 Mar 24:1-12. doi: 10.1080/08869634.2026.2647942. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc displacement has an unclear clinical importance in temporomandibular disorders (TMD), which has been shown to vary depending on the presence of concomitant muscle disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Determine differences in associations between disc displacement/muscle disorders and pain/function and quality of life (QoL).

METHODS: Clinical data from 100 TMD patients were analyzed. Patients were separated into disc displacement (DD) (n = 35), muscle disorder (MD) (n = 30), and DD+MD (n = 35) groups. Pain (visual analog scale [VAS]), function (Helkimo Index), and QoL (OHIP-14) scores were compared among groups using regression models adjusted for relevant covariates.

RESULTS: The DD+MD group had significantly worse pain scores, functional limitation, and QoL (p < 0.001). DD was independently associated with pain and function (but not QoL) after controlling for covariates.

CONCLUSION: TMJ DD is not an independent driver of pathology but is instead amplified in the presence of muscle disorders.

PMID:41874062 | DOI:10.1080/08869634.2026.2647942

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