What is the minimum criteria to diagnose TMD using the DC/TMD axis I framework?

• A. Blood tests diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis.
• B. A targeted clinical examination consistent with an Axis I category (myofascial pain, disc displacement, or OA/arthralgia), with imaging as needed to confirm.
• C. A general dental exam with no imaging.
• D. Only imaging is sufficient for diagnosis.

Answer: (B)

Axis I diagnosis of TMD rests on a focused clinical examination that maps to one of the DC/TMD categories—myofascial pain, disc displacement, or osteoarthritis/arthralgia. This means you perform a targeted history and exam, assessing jaw function, muscle tenderness, joint sounds, range of motion, and pain location and intensity to classify the condition. Imaging is not mandatory for the initial diagnosis but may be used if the exam findings are unclear or to confirm suspected disc displacement or degenerative changes. The other approaches don’t fit because they either rely on tests outside the clinical pattern needed for Axis I (like blood work), or they lack the essential clinical categorization, or they depend solely on imaging without the supporting targeted exam and signs.