Sex‐Related Differences in Temporomandibular Disorder Symptom Severity: Correlates With Jaw Function and Oral Health‐Related Quality of Life Among Patients

Background Although females comprise the majority of patients with temporomandibular disorders ( TMDs ), few studies have prioritised the influence of sex on symptom severity and impact. Objectives This cross‐sectional study investigated sex‐related differences in TMD symptom severity, jaw functional limitation ( JFL ) and oral health‐related quality of life ( OHRQoL ); examined their interrelationships by sex; and identified symptom‐specific factors linked to high JFL and low OHRQoL . Methods Consecutively enrolled patients completed a survey including demographics, the Four‐Dimensional Six TMD symptoms ( 6Ts ‐ 4D ) screener, JFL Scale‐8 ( JFLS ‐8) and Oral Health Impact Profile for TMDs ( OHIP ‐ TMD ). TMD diagnostic subtypes were subsequently determined according to the DC / TMD protocol. Data were evaluated using chi‐square, non‐parametric tests and logistic regression ( α = 0.05). Results Among 280 participants (mean age 31.2 years [ SD 11.8]), 79.3% were female. Females showed significantly higher rates of combined pain‐related and intra‐articular TMDs , more TMD symptoms, more severe headaches, greater JFL and poorer overall OHRQoL than males. They also demonstrated stronger correlations between global TMD severity and OHRQoL dimensions ( r s = 0.38–0.66), as well as between JFL and OHRQoL ( r s = 0.48–0.79). Multivariate analysis revealed that high JFL was significantly associated with jaw muscle pain ( OR 1.22), jaw joint pain ( OR 1.21), TMJ closed‐lock ( OR 1.24) and open‐lock ( OR 1.25), while low OHRQoL was related to jaw muscle pain ( OR 1.16), jaw joint pain ( OR 1.24), headache ( OR 1.23) and TMJ closed‐lock ( OR 1.13). Conclusions Findings support sex‐informed TMD care, though generalizability is constrained by study design and sample composition.