Introduction: anxiety is currently one of the most frequent clinical syndromes and the direct relationship with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) has been the starting point for various studies as well as the most common reason for consultation for the clinician. Objectives: to demonstrate the relationship between the degree of anxiety and TMD. Material and methods: a descriptive, cross-sectional and observational study was carried out with a sample of 220 individuals. Using the state/trait anxiety self-assessment questionnaire (STAI) to measure the degree of anxiety and the Fonseca anamnestic index questionnaire (IAF) to measure the degree of TMD. Results: 36.8% of the people who participated in the study present mild anxiety, 27.7% moderate anxiety, 21.8% minimal anxiety and 13.6% severe anxiety, the men having a higher percentage of moderate anxiety (33.7%) and women greater tendency to severe anxiety (16.4%). 42.3% of patients report not presenting any degree of dysfunction; 30% mild dysfunction, 18.6% moderate dysfunction, and only 8.6% severe dysfunction. Conclusion: a direct relationship was found, gradually correlating to a higher level of anxiety, a higher degree of TMD.