Objective: To identify, among Mexican teenagers from public and private schools, the frequency, severity of maloc - clusion and orthodontic treatment needs, and their possible association with temporomandibular joint disorders. Material and Methods: Fifteen-year-old students were recruited from public and private schools. Clinical findings were registered as follows: oral hygiene status with the Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified, malocclusion using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI), and TMJ disorders following WHO criteria. Negative binomial and logistic regres - sion models were constructed for data analysis. Results: A total of 249 fifteen-year old students were included in the study . Conclusions: TMJ disorders and DAI scores were significantly associated. Screening/Diagnostic programs for ortho- dontic and TMJ-disorders are needed, to identify and offer treatment to teenagers with major malocclusion and TMJ/ muscle pain.