Diffuse sclerosing osteomyelitis (chronic tendoperiostitis) of the mandible. An 11-year follow-up report.

Diffuse sclerosing osteomyelitis of the mandible is a disease that is characterized by a protracted course of recurrent pain, swelling of the cheek, and trismus. The cause of the lesion has been obscure for a long period of time. Recent research, however, pointed out that this disease is likely to be caused by overuse of the jaw musculature (chronic tendoperiostitis) and can be treated accordingly. The protracted course of the disease and the difficulty of treatment with an eventual positive outcome are illustrated by a case report of a 65-year-old man with an 11-year history of diffuse sclerosing osteomyelitis (chronic tendoperiostitis) of the mandible.