Self-assessment of pain and discomfort in patients with temporomandibular disorders: a comparison of five different scales with respect to their precision and sensitivity as well as their capacity to register memory of pain and discomfort.

Five different scales of self-assessment of pain were tested in patients with temporomandibular disorders. The precision and sensitivity and the capacity to register memory of pain and discomfort were compared for each of the five scales. The behaviour rating scale was found to be superior to the other four scales in respect of precision and sensitivity to pain and discomfort and when recording the memory of these two variables. This scale was also considered by the patients to be the most relevant and the simplest to understand. From these results, the behaviour rating scale can be recommended when measuring pain and discomfort in patients with temporomandibular disorders.