Pain and denture condition in edentulous orodyskinesia: comparisons with tardive dyskinesia and control subjects.

Edentulous orodyskinesia (ED) is a neglected source of aimless oral movements that may be confused with tardive dyskinesia (TD). We attempted to clarify the clinical features, significance, and orodental factors in relation to ED. Fourteen ED subjects, 13 TD patients, and 15 age-matched controls self-assessed their oral pain perception, condition, and function using a visual analogue scale. Dyskinesias were classified and rated by a neurologist. Perioral thermal and pressure pain threshold studies, and a standardized orodental examination, were conducted blind to subject group. The perceived oral pain level was low in all groups, and those reporting a significant intensity level of pain (>or=50th percentile) were few. The pain thresholds in both dyskinetic groups were comparable to control values. All ED cases wore a complete set of dentures, considered a current source of problems by 85.7% of them. ED cases commonly displayed inadequate dental occlusal relationship (P = 0.014 vs. controls; P = 0.036 vs. TD) and an overclosed vertical dimension (P = 0.006 vs. controls) as well as unstable and unretentive dentures. ED was limited to the oral region, spared the tongue when the mouth is open, and was never severe in our patients. ED has distinct movement characteristics and is often associated with inadequate dentures and biomechanical sources of denture instability. The contribution of the foregoing findings to the expression of oral dyskinesia warrants further studies. (c) 2008 Movement Disorder Society.