Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the relationship between the joint effusion and other magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of temporomandibular joint, and evaluate the relationship between joint effusion and clinical symptoms and oral health quality. Methods: A total of 174 patients who were admitted to the Temporomandibular Joint Department of West China Hospital of Stomatology Sichuan University from May to November 2020 were evaluated with scales and MRIs. Joint effusion was divided into four grades: no, a small amount of, obvious, and a large amount of effusion. Other MRI evaluations include: disc shape, disc position, condylar shape, condylar position, and condylar motion. The short-form oral health impact profile-14 was used to assess patients with oral pain, psychological discomfort, functional limitation and social dysfunction. The Fonseca anamnestic index was used to assess symptoms. Chi-square test, Fisher test, Pearson correlation analysis and Spearman correlation analysis were used for data analysis. Results: Difference between joint effusion and condylar morphology and disc displacement was statistically significant. Joint effusion was positively correlated with difficulty moving the jaw to the sides, neck pain, and headache. The joint effusion was not correlated with the oral health quality of patients. Conclusion: Although joint effusion was associated with specific referred pain, clinical use of joint effusion as an indication for drug and surgical intervention and as an indicator for prognostic assessment should be treated cautiously

Key words: magnetic resonance imaging, temporomandibular joint effusion, oral health-related quality of life