Bruxism Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bruxism, including details on grinding teeth, sleep, headaches, treatment.

The coexistence of temporomandibular disorders and styloid process fracture: a clinical report.

Atsu SS, Tekdemir I, Elhan A

Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Kirikkale, Turkey. saadetats@yahoo.com

This clinical report describes the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with both temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and styloid process fracture. The presence of tender muscles of mastication, facial pain, especially upon awakening, frequent grinding sounds, and tooth attrition indicated a diagnosis of TMD with bruxism as a possible etiological factor. However, the preliminary diagnosis of styloid process fracture based on the patient's sensation of a foreign body in the throat and some discomfort when turning the head was confirmed using radiography. The styloid process fracture was treated using conservative nonsurgical therapy, and an occlusal splint was used to treat the TMD. The patient's symptoms were significantly reduced at the 12-month follow-up visit.

Published 12 June 2006 in J Prosthet Dent, 95(6): 417-20.
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