Sudden open bite resulting from hemarthrosis: Report of a case

Abstract In contrast to chronic inability to open the mouth, inadequate closure of the jaws seldom occurs. The present case describes a young woman with hereditary hyperlipoproteinism on an anticoagulant who suddenly developed an unilateral open bite due to a hemarthrosis of the left TMJ. After aspiration of the accumulated blood in the temporomandibular joint, the open bite disappeared and the occlusion became normal.