%0 Journal Article
%T Replacement of Missing Anterior Teeth in a Patient with Temporomandibular Disorder
%A Satheesh B. Haralur
%A Omar Saeed Al-Shahrani
%J Case Reports in Dentistry
%D 2014
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2014/393627
%X The loss of anterior teeth leads to extreme psychological trauma, along with functional and esthetic debilitations. Healthy anterior teeth play an important role of protecting the posterior teeth during excursive mandibular movement. Loss of anterior teeth induces posterior interference with extended disocclusion time. Posterior disocclusion is critical to remove the harmful force on the teeth temporomandibular joint and eliminate muscle hypertonicity. Occlusal interference is considered as contributing factor to temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms. Prosthesis design should eliminate deleterious tooth contacts. Establishing optimum anterior guidance is a key to establishing harmonious functional occlusion in addition to the correction of the esthetic and phonetic disabilities. This case report explains the steps involved in the rehabilitation of the TMD patient with loss of maxillary anterior teeth. 1. Introduction Teeth are important to humanity not only from functional point, but also because they contribute substantially towards psychological well-being of the person. Loss of the teeth in the young adults will adversely impact the self-concept and social integration [1]. The tooth loss in younger patients is mainly attributed to the genetic, caries, and traumatic injuries. Absence of anterior teeth in addition to esthetic and phonetic handicap will affect the anterior guidance of the patients. It is critical for the clinician to understand the effect of palatal surface of the maxillary anterior teeth on mandibular movement before the initiation of their replacement [2]. Improper restoration or replacement of the anterior teeth leads to harmful interference in the posterior teeth, compromised esthetics, and mechanical failures of the prosthesis [3]. Faulty prosthesis design predisposes the supporting structures of the abutment teeth for damage [4]. Optimum anterior guidance will also help the disocclusion of posterior teeth in protrusive and lateral mandibular excursive movements [4]. Loss of anterior teeth leads to prolonged disclusion time, which may initiate temporomandibular disorders. The patient with missing anterior teeth along with existing TMD requires the careful integration of many restorative principles for successful management [5]. The anterior guidance with satisfactory esthetics, phonetics, and comfort along with optimum disocclusion time is crucial for successful rehabilitation of TMD patient [6]. This case report explains the clinical methodology in restoring missing anterior teeth in the patients with temporomandibular
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/crid/2014/393627/