Phantom Bite - A Case Report of a Rare Entity

Abstract

A case report of a patient suffering from a relatively uncommon condition called 'Phantom Bite' is presented with the aim to provide the fellow orthodontists & general dentists with an overview of potential diagnostic & treatment challenges posed by patients who present with occlusal dysesthesia. A clinical case illustrating the nature of this condition is presented & the problems associated with the management of affected patient are discussed. The patients suffering from Phantom bite syndrome have one symptom in common ; that is, they feel that their bite is not correct & their iterative belief in the need for dental treatment to accomplish correction. Since this condition is associated with an underlying psychological problem, treatment of such patients poses a greater challenge to the operator. Thus, it can be concluded that 'Phantom Bite' or 'Occlusal Dysesthesia' is seen as a form of somatoform disorder where dental treatments should be avoided & instead the focus must be on addressing the somatoform disorder through behavior change.