Evaluation of 49 mitral valve prolapse patients for maxillofacial skeletal deformities and temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

Forty-nine persons with evidence of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) documented by echocardiogram were used as a marker of diffuse connective tissue disorders to measure the incidence of maxillofacial skeletal deformities and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. Forty-five percent of the MVP patients had TMJ dysfunction; furthermore, 50% of this group had hyperlaxity of the thumb, and a significant number had a Class II molar relationship. This study demonstrates a high incidence of TMJ dysfunction among MVP patients and leads to the suspicion of a common connective tissue disorder.