TMJ disorders are diagnosed by performing a thorough clinical examination which includes palpation of the muscles of mastication, neck, and shoulders, taking a careful, pertinent, medical history, radiographic assessment,  and use of sophisticated high technology modes, such as Doppler auscultation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT scan, arthrography, EMG, thermography, etc.

TMJ radiographs (X-Rays) can demonstrate advanced boney degeneration if present. According to the literature, it cannot show the disk position within the joint.