PURPOSE: to submit an oral miofunctional therapeutic proposal, the procedures used in cases of bilateral ankylosis of the temporomandibular and the results, joint standing out the importance of interdisciplinary work and the oral miofunctional therapy contribution to rehabilitation of the stomatognatic system in these cases. METHODS: this case report is about an adult, male, referred to evaluation and specific procedures three months after the joint surgery. Core complaint was great restriction of mouth opening range. The oral miofuncional exam assessment has shown: mouth opening of 25 mm, lack of laterality and protrusion movements, previous open bite of 8 mm, difficulty in chewing, swallowing, speech articulation and pain in temporal muscles. The therapeutical objectives were: stimulate and allow the execution of mandible movements, preventing restrictive cicatricial tissue and functional rehabilitation. Procedures related to increasing the amplitude through looseness, stretching, massages, and specific maneuvers as distraction and lever had been essential to stabilize the opening of the mouth, to liberate the mandible movements partially and to co-ordinate them as long as it improves the functionality of the stomatognatic system. RESULTS: after 24 sessions were: gain of 16 mm in the opening, passing to 41 mm with stability according to annual control; reduction of the previous bite open for 4 mm; improvement in the hygienic cleaning, in the speech articulation, in the alimentary conditions with acquisition of chewing strength and reduction of the compensatory mechanisms; elimination of pain in the region of the temporal muscles in addition to improvement in the facial esthetics. CONCLUSION: the oral miofunctional therapeutic reveals itself efficient in adult with bilateral ankylosis of the temporomandibular joint, after surgical procedure, with stability of results maintained according to annual control.
Ankylosis; Temporomandibular Joint; Stomatognathic System; Facial Injuries; Rehabilitation
