Background and objectives: This study was undertaken to observe the prevalence of different diagnostic groups for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in patients who sought treatment for TMD in the outpatient clinic of a dental faculty.

Methods: Files of the patients who received a diagnosis of TMD in a period of 24 months were evaluated. Clinical and demographic data from 213 patient files providing the inclusion criteria was analyzed.

Results: The distribution of TMD patients according to gender was 80.2% women, 19.7% men. The chief presenting complaint was pain, followed by restriction in mouth opening and finally joint sounds in minority of patients. Patients received diagnosis of myofascial pain (46.9%9) presenting the higher amount, disc displacement with reduction (37.5%) and, disc displacement without reduction (15.49%). The rate of patients reported bruxism was 59% and, distributed according to the diagnosis they received as 61% (myofascial pain), 60% (disc displacement with reduction) and 51% (disc displacement without reduction) respectively.

Conclusions: In a series of patients admitted to the oral surgery clinic with the signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders, presentation was high among women and pain was the chief complaint. Myofascial pain was the most prevalent diagnosis among the patients seeking treatment.