Trismus

The word trismus mainly indicates muscular dysfunction and should not be used in all instances where there is restricted mouth opening, which may occur due to various reasons other than muscular dysfunction. The difference can complicate the treatment. It is also to note that trismus is a condition and is not a disease itself; therefore, it may occur as a sign/symptom of various diseases. Hence, the actual cause of trismus needs to be diagnosed, and the cause should be removed or treated, which would be an essential part of the management approach of a trismus patient. Trismus is a common condition that dental practitioners usually encounter in their routine practice. Still, due to the lack of proper criteria for diagnosis and management, patients having trismus go through several trials. Thus, a specific and organized process will yield an accurate diagnosis, and a clinician needs to obtain adequate patient information through a complete history and clinical examination.