OBJECTIVE: The objective is to characterize the studies that applied the DC/TMD protocol for the diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The selected studies included all in which the DC/TMD protocol was applied and as a diagnostic method; a search was carried out in 4 databases, a descriptive systematic review was carried out, with a qualitative approach, following the PRISMA 2020 protocol. RESULTADOS: A qualitative analysis was carried out for the systematic review where the findings on the studies and articles of the last 10 years were considered, based on the inclusion criteria, identifying a greater frequency in the applicability of the DC/TMD protocol for the diagnosis of TMD, that the age of greatest presentation is in adults over 18 years of age and that its prevalence is higher in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS: the frequency in the applicability of the DC/TMD protocol for the TMD diagnosis was identified as favorable in the clinical trials that were improved and stood out as the main diagnostic tool. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: TMD has been studied for more than 28 years, since then tools have emerged that facilitate its diagnosis, since 1992 the first protocol was developed, which has been modified, and its last update was made in 2016 with the DC protocol /TMD due to the importance of its clinical applicability for the diagnosis of TMD in the general population.