Objective The T-scan digital electronic occlusion analysis system was used for recording the dynamic occlusal contact of patients with TMD and analysing the occlusal characteristics and temporal characteristics of their jaw movements in different jaw positions to investigate the correlation between occlusal characteristics and TMD during jaw movements. Methods Forty adults aged 18-30 years were selected as study subjects and divided into control group (N = 17) and TMD group (N = 23) according to the DC/TMD diagnostic criteria. The subjects’occlusal processes initiated by ICP (intercuspal position，ICP) and RP (reference position，RP) were recorded by T-scan separately，and the mandibular movement time index as well as the ICP measurement at maximum occlusion were recorded. Results The TMD group had longer mandibular movement times initiated by RP than by ICP，with significant differences (P < 0.05) in left lateral occlusal separation time and right lateral occlusal separation time. Compared to the control group，the TMD group had significant differences (P < 0.05) in left and right lateral occlusal separation time when the mandible was moved from RP initiation. When the mandible began to move from the apical position，the difference in the separation time of the anterior extension occlusion was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group，TMD group had larger ratio difference of left and right side force value，COF lateral offset and mean COF offset distance，and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion There were differences in the timing of mandibular movements initiated by RP and ICP respectively in adults with TMD; the distributions of occlusal forces between the right and left sides were more disequilibrium in adults with TMD than those without TMD .