Surgical treatment for recurrent dislocation or chronic subluxation of the temporomandibular joint

Recurrent dislocation or chronic subluxation of the temporomandibular joints may occur from long-term overclosure. Mandibular overclosure is due to loss of dentition. If the overclosure is not corrected by prosthetic rehabilitation of the proper vertical dimension, the result will be loosening of the temporomandibular capsule and stretching of the lateral ligament. The authors advocate capsule plication and ligamentorrhaphy via a preauricular or endaural approach. Occlusal splints are used during surgery to reestablish the vertical dimension. The patient is kept in intermaxillary fixation for 3 weeks. Postoperative prosthetic reconstruction is needed. Two cases are presented.