2018 Volume 38 Issue 3 Pages 182-188
In the current trends, anatomical, traumatic, occlusal, behavioral, and psychological factors are considered as the cause(s) of TMJ disorder; Some events such as trauma or stress happen and when they exceed a certain threshold of physiological tolerance, TMJ disorder may be manifested. Reversible interventions such as functional training (rehabilitation) and splint therapy are considered as primary treatment options and often prioritized. These remedies are, however, symptomatic treatments. Hence in dental practice, first, differential diagnosis―whether the symptom is occlusion related―need be made, and if so, etiotropic treatment on the occlusion needs to be applied. In the present paper discussed is a case of temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD criteria group IIIb: osteoarthritis of the TMJ), suspectedly due to occlusal factors. Splint therapy to stabilize the masseter muscles and the TMJ proved effective in improving mandibular function; and subsequent occlusal reconstruction with reference to the condyle position in X-ray images was also successful in improving the patientʼs chief-complain, namely, symptoms of the TMJ and chewing dysfunction.
