doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00552.x Study of temporomandibular joint disorder in older patients by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Objectives:  To compare characteristics in older patients in a sample of the general population of those with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD). Materials and methods:  A prospective study was carried out between 2001 and 2008 in patients with TMJD. The whole sample consisted of 141 patients divided in two groups: 31 patients aged over 60 (median age 67.9, ranging from 60 to 82) and the remaining 110 patients (median age 36.3, ranging from 12 to 59) who were seeking treatment. Clinical diagnostics was confirmed by MRI. Pain intensity was rated on a visual analogue scale (VAS 0‐10). Results:  There was no statistical difference between average pain in older patients (6.2) and patients aged up to 59 (5.7) evaluated by VAS. There was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.002) in pain duration: older patients reported shorter duration of experienced pain (7.8 months) than patients aged up to 59 (12.2 months). Conclusion:  In this study, it was found that 22% were older patients with TMJD. A higher level of anxiety was shown in both patients’ groups, regardless of shorter pain experience in the older patients.