ABSTRACT
The association between removable prosthesis rehabilitation and the development of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) has been the focus of intense research efforts, as well as multiple controversies. Although an increased susceptibility to TMD in individuals wearing removable dentures is not completely clarified, a strong correlation between edentulous patients using unfitted or defective prosthesis and a higher incidence/intensity of TMD-related signs and symptoms has been suggested elsewhere. In the field of TMD, thermography has emerged as a valuable non-invasive and non-ionizing complementary diagnostic exam. In this context, a case report of a 60-year-old Caucasian female concerned with her unaesthetic smile and poor masticatory performance is described in this paper. A thermal imaging infrared camera was used to capture the patient before the oral rehabilitation, two weeks after the treatment and then, two months later. Despite preliminary, the results herein presented highlight the clinical potential of infrared medical imaging in the prosthodontic field.
