Objective: The aim of this review was to systematically review the qualitative evidence related to the experience of patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and to explore the effect it has on their lives. Materials and methods: The following databases were searched systemically: Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL Complete and the Cochrane database. Thematic synthesis was used to analyse and synthesise the data from the qualitative studies which explored the experience of adult patients with TMD. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool was used to critically appraise the quality of the included studies. Results: The search strategies yielded 3588 articles across all databases. A total of 20 articles were eventually included. Six themes were derived: TMD causes uncertainty and doubt, TMD had disruptive effects on life, TMD causes distress, understanding TMD— the illness and the causes, dealing with the pain and aims and hopes. Conclusion: The findings highlight the impact TMD could have on the quality of life and confirms the psychological and social challenges these patients experience.
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