Congenital fusion of the mandible and maxilla is a rare phenomenon. Cases can be broadly classified as bony fusion or soft tissue synechiae. The more rare bony fusion can be further classified as partial or complete and then as syndromic and nonsyndromic. Although theories as to its etiology exist, the cause of the abnormal joining of the mandible and maxilla remains unknown. Because of the paucity of cases, treatment has been individualized.
This is a report of a nonsyndromic case of complete bony syngnathism, including the treatment dilemmas faced and a review of the literature.