Distrator palatal ósseo suportado: o passo a passo / Palatal distractor bone supported: the step by step

A expansão palatal através de distrator de ancoragem óssea é utilizada, principalmente, para tratamento de discrepâncias severas em pacientes em idade de consolidação das suturas craniofaciais. Devido ao seu sucesso e à superioridade em relação aos distratores dentários, ela vem sendo cada vez mais indicada. Este artigo tem por objetivo fazer uma abordagem relacionada ao embasamento teórico aliado ao passo a passo de como são utilizados esses distratores osteo-suportados, discutindo as peculiaridades desde o planejamento à fase cirúrgica, destacando pontos importantes para o sucesso clínico do tratamento de expansão cirurgicamente assistida da maxila... (AU)

The palatal expansion through bone anchor distractor is mainly used for treatment of severe discrepancies in patients aged consolidation of craniofacial sutures. Because of its success and superiority to dental distractors, it is being increasingly indicated. This article aims to make a related approach to the theoretical background combined with step-by-step how these osteo-supported distractors are used by discussing the peculiarities from planning the surgical phase, highlighting important points for the clinical success of treatment expansion surgically assisted maxillary... (AU)

High weight standard and removal of third molars: a prospective randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: Compare the degree of exposure to adverse events during the removal of third molars between 2 groups of patients. STUDY DESIGN: Researchers designed and implemented a prospective randomized study. The study consisted of overweight and normal-weight patients subjected to the surgical removal of impacted lower third molars. A wide range of predictor variables was registered in the preoperative phase. Statistical calculations were computed. RESULTS: Five hundred sixty surgeries were performed involving 2 groups (1:1). Adverse events were found in 29.3% of surgeries in overweight patients. The same procedures performed on normal-weight patients resulted in a complication rate of 10.7%. Predictor variables significant to these events were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight patients have 3 times greater risk of experiencing morbidities during the removal of lower third molars compared with patients of normal weight. Our findings have important implications for public health, given the exorbitant growth in the population of patients with high standard weight.

Is overweight a risk factor for adverse events during removal of impacted lower third molars?

Being overweight is recognised as a significant risk factor for several morbidities; however, the experience of the dentistry faculties focusing on this population is still low. The aim of the present study was to determine the occurrence of adverse events during removal of impacted lower third molars in overweight patients. A prospective cohort study was carried out involving overweight patients subjected to surgical removal of impacted lower third molar as part of a line of research on third molar surgery. Predictor variables indicative of the occurrence of adverse events during surgery were classified by their demographic, clinical, radiographic, and surgical aspects. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed. In total, 140 patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria, and 280 surgeries were performed. Patients' mean age was 25.1±2.2 years, and the proportion of women to men was 3:1. Eight different adverse events during surgery were recorded. These events occurred in approximately 29.3% of cases and were significantly associated with predictor variables (P<0.05). Excess weight is recognised as a risk factor for the high rate of adverse events in impacted third molar surgery. The study suggests that overweight patients are highly likely to experience morbidities.

Bilateral mandibular dentigerous cysts: a case report / Cisto dentígero bilateral em mandíbula: relato de caso

Dentigerous cysts are frequently found in the maxilla. After radicular cysts, dentigerous cysts are those most commonly diagnosed, accounting for 20% of all jaw cysts. They are often asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally during routine examinations. Clinical complications such as dental displacement, ectopic eruption, dental impaction, adjacent tooth root resorption, cortical expansion with facial asymmetry, paresthesia, pathological fracture, and even malignant transformation may occur. Despite these classical features, definitive diagnosis must always be based on histological examination. Most dentigerous cysts are solitary. The aim of this article is to report a case of bilateral mandibular dentigerous cysts in a non-syndromic patient and, through a literature review, present the available treatment modalities used successfully in this case.

Os cistos são frequentemente encontrados nos maxilares. Depois dos cistos radiculares, os cistos dentígeros são os mais comumente diagnosticados, constituindo cerca de 20% de todos os cistos maxilo-mandibulares. Frequentemente apresentam-se de indolores, sendo achados em exames de rotina. Complicações clínicas como deslocamentos de dentes, erupções ectópicas, impacções dentárias, reabsorção das raízes dos dentes adjacentes, expansão da cortical gerando assimetria facial, parestesia e fratura patológica podem ocorrer advinda à presença dessa afecção. Apesar das características clássicas, o diagnóstico definitivo deve sempre ser baseado através do exame histopatológico. A maioria dos cistos dentígeros apresenta-se de forma solitária; múltiplos cistos são raros e geralmente são encontrados em pacientes sindrômicos. Este trabalho tem como objetivo relatar um caso de cistos dentígeros bilaterais em mandíbula no qual a descompressão teve fundamental importância para o sucesso do caso.

Conhecimento e utilização de protetor bucal entre praticantes de artes marciais / Knowledge and usage of the mouth guard among martial arts practitioners

Introdução: Praticantes de artes marciais são uma das populações de maior risco para o trauma, e teve como objetivo este estudo revelar o conhecimento e a utilização de protetor bucal pelos praticantes de artes marciais, buscando traçar estratégias de prevenção. Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo de corte transversal com uma amostra de praticantes de artes marciais da cidade de Maceió, Brasil. Em uma amostra de 110 atletas, foram avaliadas questões creditáveis ao conhecimento e uso do protetor bucal. Resultados: Os praticantes de artes marciais mostraram ser adultos jovens, com uma elevada percepção da importância do protetor bucal, embora o uso tenha-se mostrado baixo. Apesar de praticarem esporte de intenso contato, a maioria negou já ter sofrido danos físicos. Dos atletas adeptos, a prevenção é o principal motivo do uso, porém a maioria só faz uso nos treinos, mostrando uma boa aceitação. Conclusões: Os atletas têm percepção da importância dos dispositivos de proteção bucal, porém o seu uso é pouco difundido. Ênfase deve ser dada a realização de campanhas educativas, encorajando os atletas a usar o dispositivo de proteção ainda no começo da prática esportiva para se acostumarem e automaticamente considerá-lo como uma parte do jogo.

Introduction: Practitioners of martial arts are one of the most at-risk groups in terms of dental trauma. The aim of this study is to reveal the knowledge and usage of a mouth guard by martial arts practitioners in Brazil in order to draft prevention strategies. Methodology: A qualitative-quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out with of a sample of martial arts practitioners in the city of Maceió, Brazil. A total of 110 athletes answered questions concerning their knowledge and usage of a mouth guard. Results: The practitioners of martial arts are young adults with a good perception of the importance of using a mouth guard, but with a low rate of use. Despite practicing a sport with intense contact, the majority reported having suffered no physical injuries. Among the athletes that use mouth guards, prevention is the main reason for using a mouth guard, but most only demonstrated good acceptance during training. Conclusions: Practitioners of martial arts perceive the importance of mouth guards, but the use of such devices is divulged little. Emphasis should be placed on educational campaigns that encourage athletes to use protective equipment early on in their training to get accustomed to it and automatically consider it a part of the sport.

Retrograde migration of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt to the neck after dental treatment.

The ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (VPS) is the technique most often employed for the treatment of hydrocephaly, but may present complications after placement. Retrograde migration of the peritoneal catheter to the cervical region is rarely reported. This manuscript to describes a case of migration of the distal portion of the VPS system to the neck after dental treatment in a child and discusses the possible causes for this complication.

Prevalence and predictive factors of dental anxiety in Brazilian adolescents.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and predicitve factors of dental anxiety among Brazilian adolescents. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of a random sample of 340 Brazilian adolescents, done between 2005 and 2010. Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale and an objective questionnaire were used to determine the degree of dental anxiety. RESULTS: The prevalence of moderate to severe dental anxiety was approximately 18%. Dental anxiety was correlated with the following factors: gender (P<.05), age group (P<.001), degree of schooling (P<.001), access to newspapers and/or the Internet (P<02), oral hygiene frequency (P=.005), visits to the dentist (P<.02), reason for last visit to the dentist (P<.001), and experience with dental pain (P=.002). CONCLUSIONS: Dental fear and anxiety in Brazilian adolescents are associated with lack of economic resources, negligence of oral health, low educational level, female gender, and younger age.

Assessment of factors associated with surgical difficulty during removal of impacted maxillary third molars.

PURPOSE: Estimating the difficulty of removing third molars is a common dilemma. However, the estimation of the difficulty associated with maxillary third molar surgery has not yet been defined. The aim of the present study was to determine the degree of difficulty and identify predictor variables associated with the occurrence of difficulty in the removal of impacted maxillary third molars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study was carried out involving patients who underwent at least 1 surgical removal of an impacted maxillary third molar at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, University of Pernambuco (Pernambuco, Brazil). Predictor variables indicative of surgical difficulty were classified by their demographic, clinical, and radiographic aspects. Degree of surgical difficulty was categorized as low, moderate, or high based on the surgical technique used. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed. RESULTS: In total, 106 patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria and 204 surgeries were performed. Patients' mean age was 22.8 ± 2.2 years and the proportion of women to men was 3:1. Approximately 20% of patients were overweight. Surgical difficulty was generally low and 5 variables were significantly associated with the occurrence of a high degree of surgical difficulty. CONCLUSION: Surgical difficulty during the removal of impacted maxillary third molars is generally low. However, for cases with a high degree of difficulty, identification of predictor variables may be useful for students and inexperienced clinicians to consider the decision not to execute the procedure, thus avoiding complications that often require complex management.

Clinical study of hemodynamic changes comparing 4% articaine hydrochloride with 1:100,000 and 1:200,000 epinephrine.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hemodynamic changes with the use of 4% articaine and 2 different concentrations of epinephrine (1:100,000 and 1:200,000) in the surgical removal of symmetrically positioned lower third molars. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial was carried out involving 42 patients each undergoing 2 surgeries on separate occasions under local anesthesia with 4% articaine and either epinephrine 1:100,000 or 1:200,000. The following parameters were assessed at 4 different moments: systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure; heart rate; oxygen saturation; rate pressure product (RPP); and pressure rate quotient (PRQ). RESULTS: The concentration of epinephrine did not affect diastolic blood pressure or oxygen saturation during the surgeries. Significant differences between were detected for heart rate, RPP, and PRQ (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The epinephrine concentration (1:100,000 or 1:200,000) in a 4% articaine solution influences hemodynamic parameters without perceptible clinical changes in healthy patients undergoing lower third molar removal.

[Anxiety regarding dental treatment: prevalence and predictors among Brazilians]. / Ansiedade frente ao tratamento odontológico: prevalência e fatores predictores em brasileiros.

Considering the negative impact anxiety can exert over dental treatment, the scope of this study was to determine the prevalence of predictors of anxiety regarding dental treatment among Brazilians. A cross-sectional study was carried out using the Corah dental anxiety scale to assess the degree of anxiety regarding dental treatment among 3000 patients. The results reveal that two out of every eight Brazilian patients manifest moderate to severe anxiety regarding dental treatment. In this sample, the degree of anxiety was higher among females (p=0.007), over 20 years of age (p=0.006), without access to the Internet and/or newspapers (p=0.016), with a low frequency of oral hygiene (p=0.001), for whom the reason for the dental appointment was curative treatment, pain or another problem rather than a check up (p=0.047) and those suffering from toothache (p<0.001). Fear and anxiety regarding dental treatment indeed exist in the Brazilian population and the findings of this study suggest that, besides the lack of economic resources, negligence with respect to oral health, gender and age may increase the degree of anxiety.

Ansiedade frente ao tratamento odontológico: prevalência e fatores predictores em brasileiros / Anxiety regarding dental treatment: prevalence and predictors among Brazilians

Diante do impacto negativo que a ansiedade exerce sobre o atendimento odontológico, buscou-se conhecer sua prevalência e seus fatores predictores frente esse tratamento em brasileiros. Foi realizado um estudo de corte transversal, utilizando-se a escala de ansiedade de Corah para avaliar 3000 pacientes. Os resultados demonstram que 2 em cada 8 brasileiros avaliados apresentaram moderada ou severa ansiedade frente ao atendimento odontológico, verificando-se que a probabilidade de um paciente da população da qual a amostra foi extraída apresentar ansiedade é mais elevada se: for mulher (p = 0,007), da faixa etária superior a 20 anos (p = 0,006), se não possuir acesso a internet e/ou jornais (p = 0,016), se tiver baixa frequência de higiene oral (p = 0,001), se a visita dental for motivada por busca de tratamento curativo, por dor ou outro problema, ao invés de um check-up (p = 0,047), e experiência de odontalgia (p<0,001). O medo e a ansiedade a fatores odontológicos existem de fato na população brasileira e as conclusões do estudo sugerem que, além da falta de recursos econômicos, o descaso com a saúde bucal, o gênero e a idade podem aumentar o grau de ansiedade.

Considering the negative impact anxiety can exert over dental treatment, the scope of this study was to determine the prevalence of predictors of anxiety regarding dental treatment among Brazilians. A cross-sectional study was carried out using the Corah dental anxiety scale to assess the degree of anxiety regarding dental treatment among 3000 patients. The results reveal that two out of every eight Brazilian patients manifest moderate to severe anxiety regarding dental treatment. In this sample, the degree of anxiety was higher among females (p=0.007), over 20 years of age (p=0.006), without access to the Internet and/or newspapers (p=0.016), with a low frequency of oral hygiene (p=0.001), for whom the reason for the dental appointment was curative treatment, pain or another problem rather than a check up (p=0.047) and those suffering from toothache (p<0.001). Fear and anxiety regarding dental treatment indeed exist in the Brazilian population and the findings of this study suggest that, besides the lack of economic resources, negligence with respect to oral health, gender and age may increase the degree of anxiety.

Nervo Oculomotor: Anatomia, Fisiologia e Clínica / Oculomotor Nerve: Anatomy, Physiology and Clinical Features

Introdução: a paralisia do nervo oculomotor (NOM) é um déficit neurológico muito frequente na prática clínica. Lesões que acometem o NOM podem ser isoladas ou complexas. Nos casos de lesões isoladas, podem ser completas ou incompletas e poupar ou não a função pupilar. É fundamental o conhecimento da anatomia, fisiologia e das patologias que acometem o NOM. Metodologia: artigo de revisão com levantamento em base de dados Medline/Pubmed, SCIeLO e LILaCS. Resultados: Foram detectados artigos relacionados ao nervo oculomotor que resultaram no presente trabalho. Conclusões: É fundamental a avaliação do diâmetro pupilar bem como das motricidades ocular intrínseca e extrínseca em pacientes com acometimento do NOM. Os exames de neuroimagem contribuem para o diagnóstico em casos de lesão do NOM. assim, a correlação clínica com os achados oftalmológicos é importante na localização da lesão, conduta e prognóstico.

Introduction: Oculomotor nerve (OMN) palsy is a neurological deficit very frequently encountered in clinical practice. Injuries involving the OMN may be isolated or complex. In cases of isolated lesions the palsy may be complete or incomplete and may or may not preserve the pupillary function. a knowledge of the anatomy, physiology and pathologies involving the OMN is of fundamental importance. Methodology: This is a review article based on papers collected from the Medline/Pubmed, SCIeLO and LILaCS databases. Results: The present study is the result of the identification of articles relating to the oculomotor nerve. Conclusions: an evaluation of pupil diameter and exploration of the intrinsic and extrinsic motricity are essential in patients with impairment of the OMN. Neuroimaging is of help in the diagnosis of OMN palsy. Thus, a clinical correlation with the ophthalmologic findings is important in the location, management and prognosis of the lesion.

Guided surgery in unusual palatal torus.

Palatine torus is a benign congenital outgrowth of bone that affects the hard palate and palatine processes, resulting from the "overworking" of osteoblasts and bone deposition along the line of the palatine fusion. Surgical excision is the only treatment for torus, and such patients are susceptible to intraoperative and postoperative complications of a traumatic, functional, or infectious nature. This article describes an atypical case of torus palatinus measuring 20.31 × 27.25 × 59.20 mm, which is the largest size ever described in the literature. This case required the use of a surgical guide in the intraoperative phase, with viable use in the postoperative phase as well. This guide proved versatile in reducing the risk of undercorrection and complications, offering greater patient comfort.

Ferimento penetrante cranio-orbitário: relato de caso / Penetrating orbitocranial injury: case report

Trauma penetrante orbitocranial é um episódio infreqüente, que pode ocorrer através da penetração dos mais diversos corpos estranhos como faca, lápis e tesoura, que tendem a ir em direção ao ápice orbital, concedendo acesso à cavidade craniana, com potencial risco de lesão cerebral e mortalidade. É imprescindível a avaliação de imagens tomográficas para a exata localização do corpo penetrante, possibilitando a análise de todo o trajeto do objeto, devendo ser considerada também a possibilidade da realização de angiografia na avaliação inicial. A tentativa de remover o objeto penetrante fora da sala cirúrgica compromete a segurança do paciente, podendo ocorrer hemorragia profusa, já que na maioria dos casos, o objeto funciona como um tamponamento. Não havendo nenhuma urgência intracraniana, a injúria orbitária deve ser priorizada. Este artigo relata o caso de uma vítima de trauma facial com guidão de moto, havendo a penetração de corpo estranho através da cavidade orbitária até fossa craniana média, no qual foi realizada craniotomia para remoção do corpo estranho, evoluindo com déficit neurológico e êxito letal após 14 dias.

Brain abscess of odontogenic origin.

Brain abscess is a rare and threatening infection, which is in a suppuration area, caused either by trauma, neurosurgical complication, or by a secondary infection of dental origin complication. The infectious process spread from the start focus can occur in 2 ways: hematogenous or by contiguity. The treatment should ideally be based on the etiological factor excision, combined with drainage and antibiotics as adjuvant; this philosophy is not observed in the reports described in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. This study's goal was to report a case of brain abscess consequent of an odontogenic outbreak, where an adequate treatment was set up, but it was already in advanced stages and had as a result the lethal outcome. Complications from the odontogenic infections have a low incidence, but should never be disregarded, because they can lead to death, as described in this manuscript.

Ameloblastic fibro-odontoma in children: report of 2 cases.

Ameloblastic fibro-odontoma is a rare, mixed, benign, odontogenic tumor of significant prevalence in the mandible, with epithelial and mesenchymal components. It usually affects pediatric patients and is associated with teeth, causing a delay in eruption chronology or an alteration in the dental eruption pathway. It is occasionally diagnosed during radiographic evaluations of these patients. The literature is unclear whether it is a distinct pathological entity or a stage of odontoma. As it is benign and has a low recurrence rate, conservative treatment is recommended. The purpose of this paper was to present 2 cases of ameloblastic fibro-odontoma in the mandibles of children.

Manifestações craniofaciais da Doença de Paget - relato de caso / Manifestações craniofaciais da Doença de Paget - relato de caso Craniofacial manifestations of Paget's disease - case report

As lesões fibroósseas benignas do complexo craniofacial são representadas por uma variedade de processos caracterizados por calcificações ununsuais de uma ou múltiplas regiões do organismo. Dentre essas lesões, a Doença de Paget do osso constitui-se como uma patologia, que ocorre em três fases do processo de formação óssea, levando normalmente à perda de características morfo-funcionais de ossos longos e do complexo crânio-facial. Neste trabalho, relata-se o caso de um paciente com 56 anos de idade, atendido no serviço de Cirurgia e Traumatologia Buco-Maxilo-Facial do Hospital Santa Isabel, João Pessoa-PB, portador da doença de Paget do Osso com repercussões em todo o esqueleto. Além disso, são discutidos os aspectos históricos, a etiopatogenia e as complicações craniofaciais que podem advir dessa patologia.

Fibro osseous lesions of the craniofacial complex are represented by a variety of processes characterized by ununsual calcifications of one or multiple regions of the body. Among these lesions, Paget's disease of bone, is a condition that occurs in three stages of bone formation, typically leading to loss of morphofunctional and long bones of the craniofacial complex. In this paper, we report the case of a 56-years-old malepatient, seen at theSanta IsabelHospital, Maxillo-Facial Surgery Center , JoãoPessoa-PB, presenting Paget's disease of bone with repercussions throughout the skeleton. In addition, we discuss the historical aspects, pathogenesis andcraniofacial complications that can appear in this pathology.

Avaliação dos efeitos clínicos e cardiovasculares no uso da ropivacaína e da lidocaína na cirurgia de terceiro molar inferior incluso / Assessment of clinical and cardiovascular effects of use of ropivacaine and lidocaine in impacted lower third molar surgery

Amplamente usado na medicina para anestesia epidural e regional por apresentar longo tempo de duração e baixa toxicidade, a ropivacaína vem sendo, aos poucos, utilizada na odontologia. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos clínicos e cardiovasculares em relação à utilização de cloridrato de ropivacaína 7.5 mg/ml sem vasoconstrictor e cloridrato de lidocaína 2% com adrenalina 1:100.000, através de um ensaio clínico randomizado, duplo cego, de uma amostra de pacientes submetidos a duas intervenções cirúrgicas para remoção de terceiro molar inferior incluso. Os resultados demonstram que a lidocaína apresenta tempo de latência inferior, quando comparada à ropivacaína, sendo o maior valor encontrado de 3,67 minutos para a lidocaína e de 9,38 minutos para a ropivacaína. Em relação à duração anestésica, foi observado que a ropivacaína apresentou tempo superior quando comparado à lidocaína. A sintomatologia dolorosa pós-operatória se mostrou mais intensa após a intervenção cirúrgica, utilizando-se lidocaína. A ropivacaína, assim como a lidocaína em doses terapêuticas, não apresentou efeitos adversos dignos de alterações cardiovasculares significantes. Conclui-se que a ropivacaína representa uma droga alternativa para o uso em procedimentos que requerem maior tempo cirúrgico e ação analgésica no pós-operatório imediato.

Ropivacaine is widely used in medicine for epidural and regional anesthesia due to its long duration and low degree of toxicity. This drug has also been increasingly used in dentistry. The aim of the present study was to assess the clinical and cardiovascular effects of the use of ropivacaine (7.5 mg/ml) without a vasoconstrictor and lidocaine 2% with adrenalin (1:100,000) in a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial involving a sample of patients submitted to two separate surgical interventions for the removal of impacted lower third molars. The results demonstrate that lidocaine has a shorter latency time in comparison to ropivacaine (3.67 minutes versus 9.38 minutes). Ropivacaine has greater duration than lidocaine. Postoperative pain symptoms were more intense following surgery employing lidocaine. Neither drug exhibited adverse effects with regard to significant cardiovascular alterations. In conclusion, ropivacaine is a viable alternative for use in dental procedures that require a longer surgical time and analgesic action in the immediate postoperative period.

Anquilose temporomandibular: uma rara manifestação da espondilite anquilosante / Temporomandibular ankylosis: a rare manifestation of ankylosing spondylitis

Espondilite anquilosante é considerada uma condição crônica do grupo de doenças inflamatórias sistêmicas, de padrão reumático, que acomete os tecidos conectivos, afetando, primariamente, o esqueleto axial, sendo incomum nas articulações periféricas. A doença traz limitações no cotidiano, através da atividade motora reduzida, em virtude da rigidez, comprometendo o estado emocional e a qualidade de vida. Apesar de ser pouco comum a queixa de sintomas na articulação temporomandibular, o envolvimento dessa articulação, em alguns casos, pode ocasionar sintomas graves. Episódios de cefaleia frequentes e de longa duração além de dor maxilar ao movimento de abertura bucal são os sintomas mais frequentes do acometimento temporomandibular. No início da doença, os sintomas são geralmente unilaterais e intermitentes. Conforme a doença avança, estes são mais severos, podendo chegar à rara ocorrência da anquilose temporomandibular. Os primeiros sinais clínicos da anquilose temporomandibular é a limitação dos movimentos mandibulares, sendo essencial o diagnóstico prematuro do acometimento dessa articulação, possibilitando uma abordagem precoce. Este artigo tem como objetivo relatar um caso raro de anquilose da articulação temporomandibular secundária à espondilite anquilosante, abordando seus aspectos clínicos e terapêuticos.

Ankylosing spondylitis is considered to be a chronic condition from the group of systemic inflammatory diseases of rheumatic pattern. It affects connective tissues and particularly the axial skeleton, but it is unusual for it to develop in peripheral joints. It poses limitations to the patients? daily life because of restrictions to motor activity caused by rigidity, thus compromising their emotional condition and quality of life. Although complaints about symptoms in the temporomandibular joint are not frequent, in some cases the involvement of this joint may lead to severe symptoms. Episodes of frequent, long-lasting headaches and maxillary pain when patients open their mouths fully are the most frequent symptoms of temporomandibular involvement. At the onset of the disease, symptoms are usually unilateral and intermittent. As the disease progresses, symptoms may become more severe, possibly leading to the rare occurrence of temporomandibular ankylosis. The first clinical sign of temporomandibular ankylosis is limited jaw movement. An early diagnosis of the involvement of this joint is essential so that an early approach can be made. The purpose of this paper is to report a rare case of ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint, secondary to ankylosing spondylitits, and to discuss its clinical and therapeutic aspects.