Issue: Vojnosanit Pregl 2017; Vol. 74 (No. 4)
Oral rehabilitation of a patient with temporomandibular joint ankylosis caused by ankylosing spondylitis: A case report
Authors:
Zlata Brkić, Nikola Pijevčević, Verica Pavlić, Milan Petronijevića
Introduction. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS)/MorbusBechterew is a chronic inflammatory rheumatoid disease.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction is involved
in 4–35% of AS cases, and is correlated to the severity
and extension of AS. Even though AS-caused TMJ ankylosis
is exceptional, one should have high index of suspicion
of TMJ ankylosis in AS for an early detection, because it is
an extremely serious and disabling condition that causes
problems with mastication, swallowing, digestion, speech,
appearance and poor oral hygiene with heavy caries. Case
report. A 54-year-old male patient sought medical attention
at the Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine,
Clinic for Dentistry at the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade,
Serbia, with the chief complaint of pain in the area of
the upper left canine in the presence of limited mouth
opening. The treatment plan consisted of upper left canine
management and rehabilitation of the remaining teeth in the
frontal and the premolar region in both, the upper and
lower jaw. Even though molar region needed to be treated,
unfortunately it was not in the treatment plan because ankylosis
of TMJ made the treatment impossible. Conclusion.
The patients with AS-caused TMJ ankylosis are considered a
diagnostic challenge to routine dentistry. Accent should be
given to early diagnosis and multidisciplinary approach in
the treatment of the AS patients towards the favorable disease
course and outcome.
