Table 24.1 Inter-examiner Reliability of Assessment for Clinical Signs and Symptoms of TMD: Estimate Based on Data from Multiple Studies Using Trained, Calibrated Examiners (based on Dworkin et al., 1988; Goulet et al., 1998; John and Zwijnenburg, 2001)
Clinical finding
Degree of reliability
Vertical mandibular opening (mm)
high
Lateral excursion (mm)
adequate
Opening pattern (left, right, left corrected, right corrected, straight)
low / unacceptable
Joint sounds (click, hard grating, soft crepitus, none)
adequate
Pain on palpation: extraoral muscles
adequate
Pain on palpation: intraoral muscles
adequate
Pain on palpation: temporomandibular joint
low / unacceptable
Pain on mandibular movement
adequate
RDC Axis I diagnosis (various combinations of the above)
adequate