A case of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction which occurred in a 58 year old woman was reported. The patient was referred to our clinic with complaints of limitaion of jaw opening and of pain in the right masseteric region. No improvements of the symptoms were obtained by ordinary occlusion therapies for TMJ dysfunction.
Spontaneous closing movements and rigidity in the masticatory muscles during the resting position led to suspicion of a neurologic disease as a cause of her TMJ dysfunction.
Administration of Sulpiride (antidopaminergic drug) by the initial diagnosis of oral dyskinesia made the situation worse. On the contrary, Trihexyphenidyl (anticholinergic drug: anti-parkinsonism drug) was of much benefit in improving the symptoms and curing the TMJ dysfunction after short-period administration. Because of the remarkable effects of this drug, her TMJ dysfunction was considered to be caused by a parkinsonism-like disease localizing in oro-facial region together with other local factors.
