Sliding plates on complete dentures as a treatment of temporomandibular disorder: A case report

This work presents a case report of a woman, aged 62, who presented with si gns and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). The patient reported pain in the masticatory system and examination showed a reduction in the oc clusal vertical dimension (OVD). She was treated with complete dentures inc orporating a modification to the posterior regions developed by the authors and which were termed "sliding plates." Through analysis of photographs ta ken of the patient prior to the extraction of the patient's natural dentiti on, sliding plates were utilized to reestablish the OVD. The sliding plates also allowed for unrestricted eccentric mandibular movements, thereby acce lerating the neuromuscular deprogramming and making it possible for the man dible to adopt a more physiologic position. The dentures reduced the pain a nd were well-accepted by the patient. Therefore, sliding plates may be of g reat benefit to completely edentulous patients with painful symptoms that r esult from alterations in the OVD and inappropriate condylar positioning.