Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) is a collective term for a number of pathologic conditions of the masticatory system. Their symptomatology is diverse, with orofacial pain being one of the most common symptoms which causes a particular discomfort to the patients. Often, TMDs have a very clear etiology, but sometimes it is completely unknown. They are related to different etiologic factors and comorbid conditions, which aggravates precise diagnostics. This pathology requires team work and a multidisciplinary approach, timely detection of causes and a meticulous selection of treatment procedures, particularly for management of orofacial pain, which can be very demanding in terms of differential diagnostics. There are certain facts which are still unclear; hence notable improvements in approaching this issue are expected. The existing diagnostic classification should be changed and primarily based on etiology instead of symptomatology, which is the current tendency. Also, uniform diagnostic guidelines as well as treatment protocols should be established and that would enhance a multidisciplinary collaboration, which is essential while dealing with this kind of pathology. Special attention should be paid to the development of preventive measures based on scientific evidence that is still neglected.Temporomandibularni poremećaji (TMP) skupni je naziv za niz patoloških stanja žvačnog sustava. Šarolike su simptomatologije, a orofacijalna bol jedan je od najčešćih simptoma, te bolesnicima svakako najneugodniji. TMP su često vrlo jasne etiologije, no ponekad posve nepoznate. Povezani su s raznovrsnim etiološkim čimbenicima i komorbidnim stanjima, što otežava preciznu dijagnostiku. Ova patologija zahtijeva timski rad i multidisciplinarni pristup, pravodobno prepoznavanje uzroka i pažljiv odabir terapijskih postupaka, pogotovo pri obradi orofacijalne boli, koja diferencijalno-dijagnostički može biti vrlo zahtjevna. Još uvijek ima nepoznanica, stoga i prostora za znatna poboljšanja u pristupu ovoj problematici. Postojeću dijagnostičku klasifikaciju treba izmijeniti i prvenstveno temeljiti na etiologiji, a ne na simptomatologiji, što je danas slučaj. Također treba izraditi jedinstvene dijagnostičke smjernice i terapijske protokole, što bi unaprijedilo multidisciplinarnu suradnju, neophodnu u obradi ove vrste patologije. Posebnu brigu valja posvetiti razvoju preventivnih mjera, zasnovanih na znanstvenim dokazima, a one su još uvijek zapostavljene
