Treatment of long term anterior dislocation of the TMJ

Acute dislocation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a relatively common occurrence; chronic long-term dislocation is rare. Variance in the duration of dislocation and anatomical considerations make the treatment for long-standing dislocation complex and controversial. This paper attempts to review the literature associated with chronic TMJ dislocation treatment options and presents the authors’ experience with a particularly long term dislocation.