Stomatológ 2021, 31(2):52-58 | DOI: 10.69658/sto.2021.023

Potential causes and treatment of mouth opening difficulty in temporomandibular joint disorders

Juraj Zajko

Klinika ústnej čeľustnej a tvárovej chirurgie, LFUK Bratislava, Špitálska 24 a UN Ružinov, Ružinovská 6, Bratislava

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a relatively stressed and loaded joint, the function of which is applied during eating (food intake) and communication (speaking). The normal function of TMJ is monitored through intentional opening-closing process of the mouth, and via assessing the maximum range of opening the mouth. This condition is relatively individual and ranges from 3.0 to 4.8 cm. The value is taken as a normal movement of the mouth. If the value is above this limit, we speak of hypermobility and below this limit of hypomobility or difficulty in opening the mouth. The highest value that was measured was 7.2 cm. Causes of mouth opening difficulty can vary from traumatic, inflammatory, to tumours, and joint disorders (of arthritic or arthrogenic aetiology). The latter are based on damage to the structures of TMJ. We want to discuss and share the treatment experience with the use of arthrocentesis (AC) in mouth opening difficulty.

Keywords: temporomandibular joint (TMJ), opening-closing cycle (OC cycle), ar throcentesis (AC), ar throscopy (AS), myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS)

Published: December 15, 2021  Show citation