Temporomandibular Disorders and Jaw Pain
The most common cause of jaw pain is a group of conditions called temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). These disorders can lead to ongoing or repeated pain and difficulty moving the jaw, affecting the joint, nearby muscles, and supporting tissues. In addition, TMDs can occur alone, or with other medical conditions such as migraines, back pain, sleep problems, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome. While research on TMDs is ongoing, larger nationwide longitudinal studies are needed to better understand TMDs and how they affect people.
Prevalence of TMD and Jaw Pain
TMDs are the second most commonly occurring musculoskeletal condition resulting in pain and disability (after chronic low back pain). TMD affects about 5% of adults in the U.S., but this number can vary depending on who is studied and how the condition is diagnosed and measured. TMD can be a temporary problem that goes away on its own, or it can be a long-lasting (chronic) condition. Unusual for chronic pain conditions, the prevalence of TMDs is higher among young persons between the ages of 20 and 40. TMDs are at least twice as common in women than men.
Assessing TMDs in a research setting is complex. TMDs are often measured by asking people about symptoms such as muscle, joint, facial or jaw pain, difficulty chewing, and joint sounds. However, variation in the assessment and reporting of TMDs makes it difficult to determine its precise prevalence.
Table 1: Prevalence of Jaw Pain
Table 1 presents results from U.S. studies reporting the prevalence of jaw pain along with the methods of measurement.
| Source | Pub. Year | Study Population | Study Design | Measure | Prevalance of Jaw Pain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lipton et al (1), National Health Interview Survey | 1993 | U.S adult civilians | Cross-sectional national household interview survey (self-reported questionnaires)(n=42,370) | "During the past 6 months, pain in the jaw joint or in front of the ear" more than once. | 6-month prevalence All: 5.3% Men: 3.5% Women: 6.9% |
| Plesh et al (2), U.S. National Health Interview Survey | 2011 | U.S. adult civilians | Cross-sectional national household interview survey (self-reported questionnaires) (n=189,992) | "During the past three months, did you have... “facial ache or pain in the jaw muscles or the joint in front of the ear?” | 3-month prevalence All: 4.6% Men: 2.9% Women: 6.1% |
| Alkhubaizi et al (3), Osteoarthritis Initiative: A Knee Health study | 2018 | Subjects with a history of knee pain, age 45 to 79 years | U.S. national prospective cohort study (self-reported facial pain questionnaire) (n=4,423) | "Jaw joint or in front of ear, pain or aching, past 30 days" "Jaw joint or in front of ear, how many days had pain or aching, past 30 days" | Baseline prevalence Overall: 9.3% Women had a 2.4% higher prevalence rate of facial pain compared to men |
| Yost et al (4), Orofacial Pain: Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment study | 2020 | U.S. civilians, age 18 to 44 | Cross-sectional study nested within the parent Orofacial Pain: Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment Study (telephone interview, clinical exam, and pain test) (n=846) | High-impact orofacial pain (pain in the cheeks, jaw muscles, and/or jaw joints) experienced for at least 6 months | 6-month prevalence All TMD cases: 33.5% Men: 35.1% Women: 33.0% Combined: 18-24: 27.1% 25-34: 32.8% 35-44: 43.2% |
| Yost et al (5), National Health Interview Survey | 2020 | U.S. adults, age 18 to 74 | Cross-sectional national household interview survey (face-to-face, computer-assisted personal interviews) (n=52,159) | Jaw or face pain that lasted ≥1 day in the past 3 months | 3-month prevalence All: 4.8% Men: 3.2% Women: 6.2% Combined: 18-24: 4.2% 25-34: 4.9% 35-44: 5.2% 45-54: 5.4% 55-64: 5.1% 65-74: 3.7% |
Treatment Needs and Financial Costs Associated with TMDs
Treating TMDs can be costly, and the condition often affects a person’s daily comfort and quality of life. There is no single treatment for TMDs as it can have many different causes and symptoms. Treatments need to match the individual patient’s needs. Treatment options range from simple approaches such as self-care, pain medication, and physical therapy, to more serious treatments like surgery. Further advances in TMD research and treatment are needed to enhance the quality of care for individuals with TMDs.
Earlier studies suggest that people with TMDs have double the health care costs compared to those without it. A small proportion of individuals with TMDs are responsible for a large portion of the total health care costs associated with the condition. More recent U.S. data are needed to better understand current health care practices and treatment costs, insurance coverage, and the long-term needs of people living with TMDs.
Table 2: Financial Costs Associated with TMD in the U.S.
Table 2 presents results from U.S.-based studies that examined TMD treatment costs.
| Source | Pub. Year | Study Population | Study Design | Measure | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shimshak and DeFuria (6) | 1998 | Patients in a claims database of a large New England managed care organization | Cross-sectional study of claims data from one year (1994) (n=1,713 cases and 532,485 unmatched controls) | Overall 1994 health care costs of TMD vs. nonTMD patients | Patients with TMD used more health care services and had higher associated costs than patients without a TMD claim TMD patients / non-TMD patients All inpatient claims (per 1,000 admissions): 107.4 / 80.7 All costs per patient: $936 / $517 All inpatient claims excluding TMD claims (per 1,000 admissions): 91.1 / 80.7 All costs per patient excluding TMD claims: $753 / $517 |
| White et al (7) | 2001 | TMD patients and matched controls enrolled in a large health maintenance organization | Matched case-control study (n=8,801 cases and 8,801 matched controls) | Compared the use and cost of medical and dental care services for TMD patients and matched controls | TMD cases overall used significantly more health services and had 1.6 times higher costs for all services than controls Female TMD cases had higher costs than the male TMD cases Cases / Controls Mean TMD clinic visits: 3.26 / N/A Mean dental visits: 7.46 / 5.28 Mean pharmacy dispensings: 61.69 / 35.91 Mean outpatient visits: 42.79 / 24.94 Mean inpatient admissions: 0.69 / 0.51 Mean radiologic procedures: 9.49 / 6.20 Mean outside claim/referral Inpatient: 0.09 / 0.08 Outpatient: 2.66 / 2.14 |
Related Links
- Health Info: Temporomandibular Disorders
- Learn more about TMD research supported by NIDCR: Research Investments and Advances
References
- Lipton JA, Ship JA, Larach-Robinson D. Estimated prevalence and distribution of reported orofacial pain in the United States. J Am Dent Assoc. 1993 Oct;124(10):115-21. doi: 10.14219/jada.archive.1993.0200.
- Plesh O, Adams SH, Gansky SA. Racial/ethnic and gender prevalences in reported common pains in a national sample. J Orofac Pain. 2011 Winter;25(1):25-31.
- Alkhubaizi Q, Sorkin JD, Hochberg MC, Gordon SM. Risk factors for facial pain: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative Study. J Dent Oral Biol. 2017;2(3):1033. Epub 2017 Feb 9.
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Health Care Services; Board on Health Sciences Policy; Committee on Temporomandibular Disorders (TMDs): From Research Discoveries to Clinical Treatment. Appendix C, Prevalence, impact, and costs of treatment for temporomandibular disorders. In: Yost O, Liverman CT, English R, editors. Temporomandibular disorders: Priorities for research and care. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2020 Mar 12.
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Health Care Services; Board on Health Sciences Policy; Committee on Temporomandibular Disorders (TMDs): From Research Discoveries to Clinical Treatment. Chapter 3, Individual and societal burden of TMDs. In: Yost O, Liverman CT, English R, editors. Temporomandibular disorders: Priorities for research and care. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2020 Mar 12.
- Shimshak DG, DeFuria, MC. Health care utilization by patients with temporomandibular joint disorders. Cranio.1998 Jul;16(3):185-93. doi: 10.1080/08869634.1998.11746056.
- White BA, Williams LA, Leben JR. Health care utilization cost among health maintenance organization members with temporomandibular disorders. J Orofac Pain. 2001 Spring;15(2):158-169.
August 2025