Management of a Patient with Oral Submucous Fibrosis Having Restricted Mouth Opening: A Case Report Laxman Singh, 1 S Swarajya Bharathi, 2 Swathi Sudhapalli, 3 Devendra Chopra, 4 Virag Srivastava 5 Introduction Limited oral opening can be caused by head and neck radiation, reflex spasm, surgically treated head and neck tumours, microinvasion of the muscles of mastication, connective tissue diseases ,fibrosis of masticatory muscles, facial burns, and reconstructive lip surgeries and Oral submucous fibrosis. (1) The condition can also results from genetic disorders such as partial duplication of chromosome 6q, Hallopeau-Siemens –type recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, Freeman – Sheldon syndrome, Burton Skeletal dysplasia, and diseases such as Plummer-Vinson syndrome or scleroderma. (2).Limited mouth opening in patients is a common occurrence in prosthodontic practice.(3) Oral submucous fibrosis is a chronic insidious disease affecting any part of oral cavity and sometimes pharynx. Although occasionally preceded by vesicle formation, it is always associated with juxtaepethelial inflammatory reaction followed by a fibroelastic change of lamina propia with epethial atrophy leading to stiffness of oral mucosa, causing trismus and inability to eat .It is a disease of unknown cause that occurs mainly in India. It is associated with genetic predisposition and alterations and infectious and viral agents, carcinogens and immunological factors. It is most commonly related to the habit of tobacco chewing. Consumption of chilies, deficiency of iron and B –complex, smoking, alcohol and tobacco play important role in initiation of disease . Patients with OSMF often complain of burning sensation of the mouth especially when eating spicy food. This is accompanied by vesicles formation, ulceration or recurrent stomatitis with excessive salivation and defective gustatory sensation . The most serious consequences of OSMF is malignant transformation or IJCDS • NOVEMBER, 2011 • 2(4) © 2011 Int. Journal of Clinical Dental Science ABOUT THE AUTHORS 1.Dr Laxman Singh Sr Lecturer Department of Prosthodontics Institute Of Dental Sciences, Bareilly (UP), India. 2.Dr S Swarajya Bharathi Professor and Head Department of Prosthodontics Institute Of Dental Sciences, Bareilly (UP), India. 3.Dr Swathi Sudhapalli MDS (Prosthodontics) Private Practitioner 4.Dr Devendra Chopra Sr Lecturer Department of Prosthodontics Institute Of Dental Sciences, Bareilly (UP), India. 5.Dr Virag Srivastava Sr Lecturer Department of Prosthodontics Institute Of Dental Sciences, Bareilly (UP), India. Corresponding Author: Dr. Laxman Singh Kaira, Room No 97, New Resident Hostel, Institute Of Dental Sciences, Bareilly (UP), India. Contact: +919897165144, E-Mail: luckysinghkaira111@gmail.com Abstract Objectives-Oral Submucous Fibrosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that results in progressive juxtaepethelial Inflammatory reaction followed by a fibroelastic change of lamina propia with epethilial atrophy leading to stiffness of oral mucosa, causing trismus . This causes the difficulty in chewing, swallowing and speaking. Method- Sectional complete denture was an appropriate treatment to resolve the problem of Oral Submoucos Fibrosis. The acylic resins connectors in the form of sleeves and cross pins reduced the overall costs and simplified the laboratory technique. Results-The rehabilitation of patient suffering from OSMF is a challenge to the Prosthodontist. This article describes the prosthodontic management of such patient by using a sectional denture. Conclusions-This technique has proven to be simple, inexpensive, and applicable to the selected Oral Submucous Fibrosis patients. KEYWORDS: Oral Submucous Fibrosis, Restricted mouth opening, Sectional Denture. CASE REPORT 29