This lecture will provide an overview of the orthodontist’s role in the practice of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Decades of clinical research have provided growing scientific evidence on the absence of a relationship between features of dental occlusion or condylar position and TMDs. They also shed light on the need to focus on neurological and psychological issues for correct management of patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and jaw muscle pain. Whilst this evidence is fully embraced by dentists with expertise in the orofacial pain field, it is still hard to accept by some communities of orthodontists. Claims that there is purported ‘clinical evidence’ to support mandibular repositioning and orthodontic finalization, on an anecdotal basis and inductive reasoning, is the best argument to confute any scientific reasoning. Invasive treatment in the form of irreversible occlusal changes and year-long treatment are thus still proposed, against any recommendations by expert academics. Some arguments to discourage orthodontic treatment for TMDs are simply based on oral physiology. For instance, teeth almost never really reach maximum ‘intercuspation; movement guidance is important for an articulator, but never performed in real life; features of the interarch relationship are just a static frame; condylar position is asymmetric by definition; the condyle-fossa or condyle-disc relationship cannot be corrected’ only on one side, and this is bizarre if one considers that most patients have monolateral symptoms. Thus, any occlusally-orientated aetiological theory for TMDs has various exceptions against physiology to be considered ‘true’. Consequently, it not a surprise that the literature, which is indeed based on patients (i.e., clinical evidence!), dismantles such theories. For instance, how to explain TMD pain in patients with good occlusion? And what about the absence of symptoms in patients with poor occlusion? And the many patients with asymptomatic osteoarthrosis? Only anecdotes can help an occlusal practitioner find an explanation. In short, orthodontics can be considered neutral, at best, for the TMJs - it cannot cure TMDs, but it is also unlikely that it may cause TMJ symptoms. Knowledge on the epidemiology of TMJ sounds is fundamental for understanding the latter statement. So, what should an orthodontist do? The answer is that an orthodontist should realize that TMD symptoms are mainly due to an emotional overload, which leads to muscle tension and, via a host response, to the onset of signs and symptoms. The orthodontist looking beyond the TMD patient’s mouth will easily see an individual with emotional distress, and without any occlusal or TMJ positional clue to explain symptoms when compared with asymptomatic individuals. Depending on the symptoms, management strategies ranging from very simple behavioural advice for the control of awake bruxism to complex multimodal strategies for chronic orofacial pain are the required approaches. Within the concept of overload, an oral appliance is just a crutch, not the cure or a diagnostic device. Thinking of it makes everything immediately fit with the clinical knowledge that has been obtained by generations of orofacial pain practitioners.