Facial asymmetry and nonfunctional chewing force in temporomandibular joint disorders: Case series

Hwang, Jinhyuk

doi:2025.63.6.197

J Korean Dent Assoc > Volume 63(6); 2025 > Article

Special Issue

Journal of Korean Dental Association 2025;63(6):197-206.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22974/jkda.2025.63.6.003 Published online June 30, 2025.

안면비대칭과 비기능적 저작력에 의한 턱관절 질환의 사례를 통한 고찰

Facial asymmetry and nonfunctional chewing force in temporomandibular joint disorders: Case series

Jinhyuk Hwang

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Ceter, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence: Jinhyuk Hwang, Tel: +82-2-829-5233,
Email: phane@hanmail.net

Abstract

Several possible causes for the temporomandibular joint disorders have been proposed, but trauma to the jaw including macro and micro-trauma is the most common etiologic factor contributing to a change in biomechanics in the joint. Facial asymmetry is a factor of the force imbalance to the temporomandibular joint which can cause the temporomandiular joint disorders. It can be corrected by orthognatic surgery (2-jaw surgery) with orthodontic therapy to be a harmonic bite force transmission to the temporomandibular joint. And nonfunctional chewing force can be managed with a biofeedback device which is one of the behavior therapies. Biofeedback is a well-proved treatment method in rehabilitation therapy. In the temporomandibular joint disorders field, it can alert patients to their bruxing habits in real time and manage to stop the bruxism with stimulation to the patients. In this paper, we report on the 3 cases to discuss about the force management of the temporomandibular joint involved with facial asymmetry and sleep bruxism.

Key Words: Botulinum Toxins; Temporomandibular Joint Disorder; Facial Asymmetry; Bruxism; Biofeedback; Orthognathic Surgical Procedures