Abstract
We encountered a case of a 12-year-old boy who suffered from temporomandibular disorders (TMD) caused by the residual lower second deciduous molars. His chief complaint was a jaw-opening disorder accompanied temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. There were residual lower second deciduous molars on both sides covered with a mental cap causing occlusal interference during the side shifts of the jaw. The signs and symptoms of the joint sounds were not identified during functional jaw movements on both sides.
The signs of the joint effusion, which were classified as extensive fluid, were found on five continuous sections on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the MTJ. He was diagnosed as having capsule-ligament disorders based on clinical and MR imaging findings. We suspected that the signs and symptoms of the TMJ were caused by occlusal interference depending on the residual lower second deciduous molars.
We therefore extracted the residual lower second deciduous molars on both sides under local anesthesia on the same day. After extraction of the teeth, sings and symptoms of TMD greatly improves, and He has not complained of any pain in the orofacial area and the signs of the joint effusion on MR imaging of the TMJ have disappeared then. We concluded that the occlusal interference depending on the residual second deciduous molar could be the cause of TMD.
