Abstract
A case of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) with unilateral posterior open bite (POB) due to edematous enlargement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) space was reported. The patient was a 26-year-old female with pain in the left TMJ and mouth closing disturbance due to left posterior open bite. She had no mouth opening limitation, severe inflammatory signs such as swelling and fever, or history of trauma. MRI showed bilaterally anterior displacement of the discs with reduction, as well as enlargement of the superior-posterior joint space with joint effusion in the left side. By resting the left TMJ with NSAID medication, the degree of pain and POB were both gradually reduced from the day after the first visit, and the sense of POB and pain in daily life had disappeared by 10 days and 15 days after the start of treatment, respectively. In objective evaluation using Bite Checker® and Dental Prescale®, bilateral even contacts of the teeth were observed 25 days after the start of treatment. This case study indicated that POB could be caused by edematous enlargement of the TMJ space without severe inflammatory signs or symptoms.
