Abstract: PURPOSE: To measure and analyze the changes in quantitative sensory function in patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and masticatory muscle pain, and to analyze its relationship with pain perception and dysfunction, so as to provide a basis for personalized treatment of patients with masticatory muscle pain. METHODS: Fifty TMD patients with masticatory muscle pain were selected as the experimental group, and 50 gender and age matched TMD patients without masticatory muscle pain were selected as the control group. All participants underwent comprehensive quantitative sensory test, including cold detection thresholds(CDT), warm sensation thresholds(WDT), cold pain thresholds (CPT), hot pain thresholds(HPT), and pressure pain thresholds (PPT). In addition, pain questionnaire surveys and mandibular function impairment questionnaire(MFIQ) assessments were conducted. RESULTS: The CDT, WDT, CPT, HPT, and PPT of TMD patients were significantly lower than those of the control group(P<0.05). The pain questionnaire scores and MFIQ scores of myalgia patients were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). The results of quantitative sensory testing were negatively correlated with pain questionnaire scores and MFIQ scores. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with masticatory muscle pain show decreased thresholds in multiple sensory dimensions, indicating that sensory pain phenomena are widespread. These sensory function abnormalities may be related to the patients' pain perception and functional disorders. Quantitative sensory test can provide in-depth insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms of masticatory muscle pain and offer a basis for the development of personalized treatment strategies.

Key words: Temporomandibular disorder, Masticatory muscle pain, Quantitative sensory function, Pain perception, Dysfunction