Maxillofacial Implications of Scleroderma and Systemic Sclerosis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Scleroderma and more generally systemic sclerosis comprise a group of autoimmune diseases characterized by increased collagen synthesis and deposition within connective tissue. The Scleroderma Foundation estimates that as many as 300,000 persons in the United States have scleroderma. Although the etiology of the disease is unknown, it is thought to be related to chronic inflammation secondary to autoimmune tissue damage. Scleroderma has variable presentations and may result in changes to the skin, blood vessels, muscles, and internal organs. Oral and maxillofacial findings can include limited mouth opening; xerostomia; periodontal disease; widening of the periodontal ligament space; zygomatic arch resorption; and resorption of the mandibular angle, coronoid process, and condyle. We present the case of a 26-year-old female patient with scleroderma who exhibited extreme maxillofacial manifestations of the disease.