Orofacial Dyskinesia

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Abstract
A movement disorder, orofacial dyskinesia, is characterized by severe, involuntary, dystonic movements of the facial, oral, and cervical musculature. This condition is usually thought to result either from an extrapyramidal disorder or as a complication of phenothiazine therapy. However, certain edentulous dental patients also were observed to have involuntary dystonic movements similar to, but less severe than, those with orofacial dyskinesia. The symptoms of these dental patients responded favorably to prosthetic dental therapy. This suggested that similar dental therapy might be effective in the control of symptoms of orofacial dyskinesia. Four patients with confirmed diagnoses of orofacial dyskinesia wore dentures which had incorrect occlusions (craniomandibular relations). Modifications to correct the denture occlusions effected dramatic symptom reduction in all patients. Disruption of dental proprioception may be an important factor in the genesis of orofacial dyskinesia.

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