颞下颌关节紊乱综合征的发病率和患病率在不同人群中有很大的不同。一篇综述引用的研究表明西方国家的成人发病率,男性为3.2%-10%,女性为9%-15%。而该病的患病率在美国,加拿大和欧洲与之相似。[3]LeResche L. Epidemiology of temporomandibular disorders: implications for the investigation of etiologic factors. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med. 1997;8:291-305.http://cro.sagepub.com/content/8/3/291.full.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9260045?tool=bestpractice.com另一项研究表明颞下颌关节紊乱患者中约有10%出现疼痛,发病高峰年龄在20岁到40岁之间。[2]Kapur N, Kamel IR, Herlich A. Oral and craniofacial pain: diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment. Int Anesthesiol Clin. 2003;41:115-150.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12872029?tool=bestpractice.com在美国人口中,据估计,约有17.4%的女性患有颞下颌关节紊乱综合征的某种亚型,而男性为9.3%。[4]Lund JP, Widmer CG, Feine JS. Validity of diagnostic and monitoring tests used for temporomandibular disorders. J Dent Res. 1995;74:1133-1143.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7782545?tool=bestpractice.com高达70%的人口可能至少有一种与颞下颌关节紊乱综合征相关的症状,但只有1/4有症状和体征的人寻求治疗,他们中的大多数为女性。[1]Dimitroulis G. Temporomandibular disorders: a clinical update. BMJ. 1998;317:190-194.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1113540/?tool=pubmedhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9665905?tool=bestpractice.com在 10 岁以下的儿童[5]American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Guideline on acquired temporomandibular disorders in infants, children, and adolescents. 2015. http://www.aapd.org/ (last accessed 14 September 2016).http://www.aapd.org/media/Policies_Guidelines/G_TMD.pdf和老年人中是罕见的。