A total of 211 persons with a complete natural dentition were examined for signs and symptoms of the TMJ pain dysfunction syndrome. They also answered the questions of the Dutch version of the Hopkins Symptoms Check List (HSCL). Schooling, age and sex were also registered. Signs and symptoms of the TMJ pain dysfunction syndrome proved to be highly correlated to the psychologic and somatic scales of the HSCL with one exception: maximal mouth opening. The total palpation score proved to be a reliable, sensitive, easy and fast predictor for the severity of the TMJ pain dysfunction syndrome.