Oromandibular dystonia treatment following a loss of vertical dimension.

UNLABELLED: Oromandibular dystonia is a rare condition of hyperkinetic motor dysfunction in the orofacial area. It is a centrally mediated disorder of unknown aetiology and manifested by a sustained contraction of masticatory muscles, involving one or both lateral pterygoids, and pushing the mandible forward. The prognosis is poor and the treatment is symptomatic. This paper describes a case of a 38-year-old woman referred for a locked left TMJ who was diagnosed as having an oromandibular dystonia. A step-by-step diagnosis and treatment procedure is described.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Knowledge of oromandibular dystonia may be valuable as rare medical diseases can be masked by common dental problems.