Tooth wear: use of overlays with metallic structures.

This work is a clinical case report of a patient presenting with marked tooth wear in all teeth, a reduction in the vertical dimension of occlusion, and fatigue in the muscles of mastication. The treatment proposed and effected used a muscle-relaxing appliance and mandibular and maxillary overlay appliances which were adjusted according to the occlusal contacts, vertical dimension of occlusion, and the mandibular positioning. The results obtained were satisfactory in terms of relaxing the muscles involved, reestablishing the dimensions of the lower third of the face, and the functional activities of deglutition, mastication, and speech.

Tooth wear and loss: symptomatological and rehabilitating treatments.

The authors report a clinical case that presented tooth wear and absence, with painful muscular and articular symptomatology, and also alteration in deglutition, mastication and speech. The clinical procedures used were re-establishment of vertical dimension of occlusion, mandibular centric relations, and occlusal contacts through therapeutic removable partial dentures. The condyle position was analyzed in habitual occlusion and in occlusion with dentures, through transcranial radiographs of the temporomandibular joints. Oral rehabilitation was achieved with dental restoration and removable partial dentures.

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita in a patient with limited mouth opening: a case report.

This report describes a case of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and concomitant bruxism with limited mouth opening and pain in the temporomandibular joints (TMJ). A conservative treatment with a myorelaxing splint and physiotherapeutic exercises was prescribed resulting in improvement to the muscular and joint conditions and a reduction in pain.

Sliding plates on complete dentures as a treatment of temporomandibular disorder: a case report.

This work presents a case report of a woman, aged 62, who presented with signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). The patient reported pain in the masticatory system and examination showed a reduction in the occlusal vertical dimension (OVD). She was treated with complete dentures incorporating a modification to the posterior regions developed by the authors and which were termed "sliding plates." Through analysis of photographs taken of the patient prior to the extraction of the patient's natural dentition, sliding plates were utilized to reestablish the OVD. The sliding plates also allowed for unrestricted eccentric mandibular movements, thereby accelerating the neuromuscular deprogramming and making it possible for the mandible to adopt a more physiologic position. The dentures reduced the pain and were well-accepted by the patient. Therefore, sliding plates may be of great benefit to completely edentulous patients with painful symptoms that result from alterations in the OVD and inappropriate condylar positioning.

Occlusal splint therapy with a positioning orifice.

The authors studied the effect of a positioning orifice introduced in the anterior palatine region of occlusal splints for patients with craniomandibular disorders of swallowing and speech patterns. The patients were evaluated in four distinct situations. It was concluded that the splint orifice significantly favored swallowing and speech while the splint was being used, and is more comfortable for the patient.

Association of a temporomandibular disorder and Eagle's syndrome: case report.

We report a clinical case of Eagle's syndrome which required dental intervention due to the presence of exacerbated symptoms indicating an association with a temporomandibular disorder. The therapeutic dental procedures used were an occlusal splint and temporary removable partial dentures. Surgical removal of the styloid process on the left side was later performed as a medical option.