OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of pain in temporomandibular disorders (TMD) through analyzing the description of pain by the TMD patients.

METHODSNinety TMD pain patients were included and the glossary in description of the intensity, rhythm and degree of disability due to TMD pain were recorded.

RESULTSThe descriptive pain by 90 patients was slight to moderate. There was no significant difference between males and females or between chronic and acute patients in the description of pain intensity (P > 0.05). The chewing disability was the most often reported complaining, and then was mental status. The probability of pain at rest was not different between in chronic pain patients and acute pain patients(P > 0.05). The acute pain patients often used aching, slight and tingle to describe their pain, while the chronic pain patients used dull, gas and numb more.

CONCLUSIONPain intensity in acute or chronic TMD patients is both low. The pain mainly influences chewing function and mental status in patients. Descriptive characteristic with chronic orofacial pain is different from acute.