Current concepts in the surgical treatment of patients with myasthenia gravis.

Patients undergoing surgical treatment often have concurrent diseases. An in-depth understanding of such diseases permits the dentist to initiate treatment with minimal risk to the patient. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is one such disease; it is characterized by various degrees of muscle weakness and fatigue. Many of the physical signs and symptoms affect the oral and facial musculature. A review of the symptoms, etiology, and treatment of myasthenia gravis, with special reference to the patient undergoing surgical treatment, is presented.