Flawed prosthodontic treatment as a triggering factor of orofacial dyskinesia: A case report

TL;DR

A flawed dental prosthesis triggered orofacial dyskinesia in a 70-year-old woman, and botulinum toxin injections improved her symptoms.

Contribution

This case report highlights defective dental prosthetics as a novel peripheral trigger for orofacial dyskinesia.

Findings

A flawed prosthodontic treatment was identified as a trigger for orofacial dyskinesia in a 70-year-old woman.

Botulinum toxin injections improved clinical symptoms and quality of life in this patient.

Peripheral factors like dental prosthetics may play a role in movement disorders previously attributed to central causes.

Abstract

Orofacial dyskinesia (ODk) is an involuntary, repetitive and stereotyped movement disorder of the oro-bucco-lingual muscles, which can be classified as primary (idiopathic) or secondary to medical conditions such as oral peripheral factors, that may act as triggers or aggravators. The present case describes a 70 years female with ODk, non-associated to drug use, without central etiological factors or morbid conditions, but with the presence of a flawed prosthodontic treatment, which complaint from spasms in the masticatory muscles that alters jaw dynamics, and her ability for maintain a relaxed jaw in maximal intercuspal position. After an unsuccessful oral drug treatment, botulinum toxin was injected to the jaw muscles with favorable results. The case illustrated that peripheral factors, such as defective dental prosthetics, may trigger or aggravate orofacial movement disorders, and peripheral strategies such as botulinum toxin may contribute to improve clinical parameters and quality of life.

Key words:Botulinum toxin, case report, dyskinesia, movement disorder, orofacial dyskinesia.

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