Abstract
Patient: The patient was a 57-year-old woman who visited the Nihon University Dental Hospital in November 2008 for the chief complaint of pain on motion of the left temporomandibular joint and trismus. Because of insufficient left-sided vertical dimension, the required occlusal position was decided using a splint and a provisional restoration (PR), which improved the symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) in occlusal reconstruction.
Discussion: An accurate diagnosis is important when treating a patient with insufficient vertical dimension on TMD. However, when occlusal reconstruction is necessary for improvement of TMD symptoms, it is recommended to verify the effect of treatment steps carefully in order to decide the occlusal position and final prosthesis.
Conclusion: Occlusion (insufficient left-sided vertical dimension) was reconstructed for this patient with aggravated symptoms of temporomandibular joint disease for several years, resulting in good long-term progress.
