Practitioners should aim to diagnose as early as possible the development of malfunction of the masticatory system, or temporomandibular disorder (TMD), that causes pain, discomfort and a decrease in functional efficiency, especially in those patients whose occlusion is being rehabilitated in the course of orthodontic treatment. This is particularly true for the segment of the patient population who are characterized by certain risk factors.

Armed with a good understanding of the diagnostic classification of TMD, orthodontists will be better prepared to pinpoint and diagnose TMD and, if necessary, adopt the most appropriate mode of therapy for treating it.

Thanks to a good understanding of TMD nosology, orthodontists will be able to distinguish between muscular and joint disorders and then manage patients in accordance with specific diagnostic criteria.