Some considerations about maintenance of the mandibular position for adult patient with TMJ disorder.

The patient was twenty-three year old female with TMJ disorder and crowding. She had often had a clicking sound caused probably by malocclusion since she was eighteen years of age. Limitation of mouth opening with TMJ locking has been occurring since she had an impacted right lower third molar extracted at nineteen. A stabilization splint was applied for better mandibular position to rectify the TMJ disorder. The clinical symptom was relieved one month later, so the malocclusion was treated with a multi-bracket appliance. Since cross bite in [formula: see text] was corrected in a year and three months, symptoms of the TMJ disorder disappeared and this condition has remained stable for the past year. A stabilization retainer worn at night was considered necessary to prevent a relapse of the dentition and mandibular position, and to keep the masticatory muscles relaxed. For the purpose of stabilizing the TMJ condition and occlusion, the patient was taught unilateral mastication in order to diminish the difference between sides in chewing force, because only one side had been habitually used for a long time. It is suggested that such an alternative chewing habit will improve functional stability following the structural correction.