Which statement about patient-reported outcome measures in TMD is accurate?

• A. They are objective imaging tests.
• B. They are clinician-rated scales.
• C. They are patient-reported measures used to assess disability, pain, and quality of life.
• D. They are not used in TMD evaluation.

Answer: (C)

PROMs in TMD are questionnaires patients fill out to describe how their jaw disorder affects their daily life. The key idea is that these tools capture the patient’s own experience of pain, functional limitations, and overall quality of life, rather than relying on imaging findings or the clinician’s judgment. That’s why the statement describing PROMs as patient-reported measures used to assess disability, pain, and quality of life is the best fit. They are not objective imaging tests, which visualize structures; they are not clinician-rated scales, which depend on the clinician’s assessment. PROMs are used in TMD evaluation to quantify the patient’s perspective, track changes over time, and guide treatment decisions.