Search

Objectives: Peripherally induced movement disorders (PIMD) are hyperkinetic movement disorders that can occur after injury to a part of the body. This study aimed to identify PIMD in the stomatognathic system following dental or oral surgical procedures. Materials and methods: A total of 229 patients with PIMD (144 women and 85 men; mean age: 53.4 years) triggered by oral surgical or dental interventions were evaluated retrospectively. Results: The average latency between the procedures and onset of PIMD was 14.3 days. Oral surgery (40.2%), including tooth extraction, trauma treatment, and other surgical procedures, was the most frequent trigger of PIMD. This was followed by general dental treatment, including periodontal, endodontic, and restorative procedures (36.7%), prosthetic treatment (19.7%), and orthodontic treatment (3.5%). PIMD consisted of oromandibular dystonia (73.8%), functional (psychogenic) movement disorders (11.4%), orolingual dyskinesia (7.9%), and hemimasticatory spasms (5.7%). Conclusions: These results suggest that even minor alterations in normal anatomy or physiology after dental procedures may result in PIMD in predisposing patients. Clinical relevance: Dental professionals should be aware that although infrequently, PIMD can develop after various dental treatments. If such symptoms precipitate, the attending physician should properly explain them to the patient and provide appropriate treatment or consultation with a movement disorder specialist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared thermography is a versatile non-invasive examination method. Only a few studies used it on children´s face. To describe facial temperature spatial distribution in nasal-breathing children, compare temperature between sexes, and verify whether thermoanatomic points described for adults are easily viewed in children, and to assess the reliability of marking those points. Cross-sectional observational study of 30 nasal-breathing children of both sexes aged 4 to 11 years. Three thermograms of each participant were recorded. The mean temperatures of 14 thermoanatomic points were assessed in the front view thermogram, as well as 12 such points (six on each side) in the side view thermograms. Descriptive analysis, comparison between the sexes, and intra- and interrater agreement analyses of point assessment were made. In the front view thermogram, the highest temperature was in the Medial Palpebral Commissure (right: 34.83 °C and left: 34.93 °C), while in the side view, it was in the Temporal (34.78 °C and 34.77 °C). The Supratrochlear point did not stand out on the children's faces. The forehead, eyes, and perioral regions were the warmest ones, while the nose, cheeks, and chin were the coolest ones. No differences were found between the sexes (p > 0.05). Intra- and interrater agreement analyses of point assessment ranged from good to excellent. Children exhibited thermal asymmetry. Their warmest regions were the forehead, eyes, and perioral region. There was no difference between sexes and the thermoanatomic points found in children were similar to those in adults, except for Supratrochlear, which is not nitid. Intra and interrater agreement was good or excellent for most points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To analyze the functions of the stomatognathic system in children with or without molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH). Methods: For this cross-sectional study, 72 children aged 6–12 years were recruited and divided in two groups: with MIH (G1) and without MIH (G2). T-SCAN was used to verify the distribution of occlusal contacts, gnathodynamometer to measure maximum molar bite force, and Iowa Oral Pressure Instrument (IOPI) to assess the strength of facial expression muscles. The t test and paired t test (p ≤ 0.05) were used for statistical comparisons. Results: The molars affected by MIH exhibited lower distribution of occlusal forces (p < 0.001) and lower maximum molar bite force (p < 0.05) compared to the molars in the control group. However, there was no difference between the MIH-affected sides compared to the unaffected side, nor between the molars affected by MIH and their antagonists (p > 0.05). There were no differences in the forces of the facial expression muscles between the groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that MIH significantly impacts occlusal force distribution and bite force, but not facial expression musculature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of awake bruxism (AB) in the adult population. Materials and methods: Six main electronic databases and three sources of grey literature were searched to identify cross-sectional studies in which AB was assessed. The studies were independently selected by two reviewers in two phases, based on their eligibility criteria. The first one consisted of reading titles and abstracts, and the second one involved reading the full articles. The study quality assessment was obtained by using the "Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data", and the "R Statistics" software was used to perform meta-analyses. Results: Seventeen out of 3086 identified studies were included. None of the studies scored high in methodological quality across all 9 items of the JBI checklist. However, "the use of valid methods to identify pathology" and "appropriate statistical analysis" were considered to have high methodological quality in all the studies. The overall pooled prevalence of the meta-analysis was 15.44% (99% confidence interval: 10.81 to 20.72%) and there was no difference for sex, sampling method and according to consensus-based classification. Conclusions: The prevalence of AB in adults was low. There was substantial methodological variability, which highlights the need for standardized guidelines. Clinical relevance: Prevalence data are useful for raising patients' and clinicians' awareness of the AB. Moreover, since AB can lead to possible pain and overload of the stomatognathic system, this knowledge can also guide dentists to achieve an early diagnosis of AB and to provide appropriate care management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most studied class of non-coding RNAs is microRNAs (miRNAs) which regulate more than 60% of human genes. A network of miRNA gene interactions participates in stem cell self-renewal, proliferation, migration, apoptosis, immunomodulation, and differentiation. Human pulp tissue-derived stem cells (PSCs) are an attractive source of dental mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) which comprise human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) obtained from the dental pulp of permanent teeth and stem cells isolated from exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) that would be a therapeutic opportunity in stomatognathic system reconstruction and repair of other damaged tissues. The regenerative capacity of hDPSCs and SHEDs is mediated by osteogenic, odontogenic, myogenic, neurogenic, angiogenic differentiation, and immunomodulatory function. Multi-lineage differentiation of PSCs can be induced or inhibited by the interaction of miRNAs with their target genes. Manipulating the expression of functional miRNAs in PSCs by mimicking miRNAs or inhibiting miRNAs emerged as a therapeutic tool in the clinical translation. However, the effectiveness and safety of miRNA-based therapeutics, besides higher stability, biocompatibility, less off-target effects, and immunologic reactions, have received particular attention. This review aimed to comprehensively overview the molecular mechanisms underlying miRNA-modified PSCs as a futuristic therapeutic option in regenerative dentistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Present a gnathodynamometer design that increases patient comfort, precision, and/or ease for the operator during bite force tests. Materials and methods: A bite tip capable of pivoting 180° was tested on senior dental students in a double-blind trial. The tests were performed in teeth 11 and 16 with the bite tip on the long axis of the clamp and at an angle of 90° to the clamp. The sample was composed of 24 students, 13 males and 11 females, randomly divided into two groups: the operator group (OP), which was composed of 12 students, 7 males and 5 females, and the test group (TI), which was composed of 12 students, 6 males and 6 females. The operator and participants were asked to evaluate comfort and precision/ease in positioning the bite tip by attributing scores from 0 (total discomfort) to 10 (total comfort) during the test. Results: No difference was noted in tooth 11 (P > 0.05). In tooth 16, there was a statistically significant improvement (P < 0.01) for the participants tested and the operator using the pivoting bite tip. Conclusions: The pivoting bite tip showed no difference in the comfort of the participants and operator precision when testing incisors; however, the tip showed a difference for both conditions in the molar region. The gnathodynamometer geometry showed good results in participant comfort and operator precision when used in bite force tests of the incisors and molars. Further investigations are needed to confirm whether these improvements influence the mean value and maximum bite force measurement. Clinical relevance : Bite force measurement is a method for obtaining important data to check the functional conditions of the stomatognathic system. With the aging of the world population, it has become important to check the quality of life during aging. The pivoting bite tip improves the comfort and precision of bite tests for the participants tested and for the operator, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate electromyographic activity, bite strength, and masticatory muscle thickness in women without obesity and with severe obesity elected for bariatric surgery. Also, patients with obesity underwent bariatric surgery and were re-evaluated 3 and 6 months after surgery to analyze the influence of bariatric surgery outcomes on the stomatognathic system, a functional anatomical system comprising teeth, jaw, and associated soft tissues. Material and Methods: Thirty-seven women were enrolled in the study. Twenty-one women with class II and III obesity according to the body mass index (BMI) and eligible for bariatric surgery composed the obesity pre-surgery group (Ob). Sixteen women with a normal weight according to BMI composed the non-obesity group (NOb). Afterward, the patients from the Ob group were followed up for 3 and 6 months after undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Anthropometry, body composition, and parameters of the stomatognathic system were evaluated. Results: The stomatognathic system of the Ob group had less muscle activity and bite strength, but the thickness of masseter and temporal muscles was larger than the NOb group. We also observed a significant change in the muscular activity and bit strength of the stomatognathic system post-bariatric surgery. Conclusion: Evaluating the stomatognathic system indicated that women with clinically severe obesity have less masticatory efficiency than non-obese. Also, we found a positive influence of bariatric surgery in masticatory activity after 3 and 6 months. Thus, monitoring the parameters of the stomatognathic system could be important in the indication and outcomes of bariatric surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare professionals need to know the degree of disability and severity of their patients to determine actions and therapy needed to minimize potential harm, improve their patient condition, and maximize clinical outcomes. Objectives: To evaluate the occurrence and severity of neck disability in individuals with muscular, joint, and mixed temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study with individuals divided into four groups: muscular TMD (n=20), joint TMD (n=20), mixed TMD (n=20) and control (n=20). For diagnosis and classification of TMD, it was used the Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) and to assess the severity of neck dysfunction the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Results: Moderate neck disability was frequent in all individuals with TMD; high scores of neck disability index were evidenced in the mixed and joint TMD groups; there was a moderate positive correlation between the severity of neck disability and TMD severity (r=0.7; CI=0.32–0.78; p<0.03). Conclusion: The gravity of neck disability and the severity of TMD are directly proportional in the group of individuals with mixed TMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of oral rehabilitation with complete dentures on bite force and electromyography of the suprahyoid and sternocleidomastoid muscles, and their correlation with occlusal vertical dimension (OVD). The research questions were "What are the effects of rehabilitation with complete dentures on bite force and electromyography of suprahyoid and sternocleidomastoid muscles, and how are they correlated with OVD?" Materials and methods: Patients who are wearers of unsatisfactory removable complete dentures were attended in three sessions (T0, T1, and T2). At T0, while the patients still wore the old dentures, they were submitted to bite force and surface electromyographic exams of the suprahyoid and sternocleidomastoid muscles. These exams were repeated, and the OVD was measured while the patients wore their old and new prostheses, 30 days after insertion of the new prosthesis (T1). The exams were repeated 100 days after the insertion of the new prosthesis (T2). The data were submitted to the Shapiro-Wilk normality test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson correlation and linear regression, all with 5% significance. Results: Fifteen patients participated in the study. No statistically significant difference was observed for bite force or electromyography in T0, T1, or T2. However, the correlation and regression tests showed important interactions between the OVD and maximum voluntary occlusal bite force, as well as the OVD and electromyography during deglutition for the suprahyoid muscles. Conclusion: Rehabilitation did not impact bite force nor the activity of the assessed muscles (electromyography). On the other hand, OVD was shown to be an important factor for bite force, and deglutition of water after rehabilitation. Clinical relevance: This study shows what are the influences of rehabilitation on oral functions and reinforces the importance of corrected reestablishment of OVD because it has been found to be an important factor for bite force and electromyography during deglutition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Manuelle Medizin is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to observe the adaptation strategy of the stomatognathic system during the adaptation of complete dentures, comprising masticatory parameters and subjective measures. Our hypothesis was that with new dentures, masticatory performance would increase while the effort of the system is kept constant.Material and methods: Thirty-two patients received standardized new complete dentures. Masticatory performance tests were conducted with old dentures (T1), immediately after incorporation of new dentures (T2) and after an adaptation period of 3 months (T3). Patients habitually chewed the silicone-based artificial test food Optocal. The comminuted test food was analyzed and mean particle sizes (x50) were calculated. Simultaneously, surface EMGs of the anterior temporalis and masseter muscles were recorded. Specific (SMW) and total muscle work (TMW) were determined. Patients filled in the OHIP-49 questionnaire. Test conditions were compared using repeated-measures ANOVA with SPSS 22 (SPSS Inc.)Results: Masticatory performance increased (P = 0.016) between old (x50 = 4.99 ± 0.28) and adapted new dentures (x50 = 4.80 ± 0.33). TMW deteriorated (P = 0.004) at T2 (from TMW1 = 119.77 ± 56.49 to TMW2 = 92.12 46.27), and increased again (P = 0.028) at T3 (TMW3 = 107.66 ± 44.65). OHIP scores decreased significantly in all subscales (P < 0.001…P = 0.046); the total score was reduced (P < 0.001) from 56.24 ± 29.05 (T1) to 34.66 ± 24.74 (T3).Conclusion: In complete denture wearers, masticatory performance improves over an adaptation period. Muscle work initially decreased before reaching its original level again after adaptation. Subjective parameters overestimated the functional improvements.Clinical significance: The subjective evaluation does not adequately reflect functional improvements. The assessment of function requires an adaptation period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics/Fortschritte der Kieferorthopadie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics/Fortschritte der Kieferorthopadie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), caused by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), is a highly contagious infectious disease that affects domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals worldwide. VP2 is a structural protein of FMDV. In this study, a potent FMDV serotype-independent monoclonal antibody (MAb) 3D9 was generated. Screening of a phage-displayed random 12-peptide library revealed that MAb 3D9 bound to phages displaying a consensus motif GVYxxAYxW that is highly homologous to the GVYxxxxxxxAYxxxxW motif in the FMDV VP2 protein. Importantly, this conformational epitope was highly conserved among all seven serotypes of FMDV analyzed in sequence alignments. To further verify the authentic epitope recognized by MAb 3D9, a FMDV O/YS/CHA/05 mutant virus V90A was generated using a reverse genetics system. The results revealed that Val was an important residue for MAb 3D9 binding within this conformational epitope. Thus, we finely mapped a conserved conformational epitope onto the FMDV VP2 protein. These results could be applied in the development of epitope-based vaccines and suitable MAb-based diagnostic methods for various FMDV serotype-independent tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we report on Longgudong, an Early Pleistocene cave site in south China which was systematically excavated in 1999 and 2000, and where human teeth and associated stone artifacts were discovered within the same stratigraphic layer. The age of this site was estimated from faunal comparisons and palaeomagnetism and has been attributed to the Early Pleistocene, most probably the earlier Early Pleistocene. The human teeth from this site have been well studied. However, the stone artifacts are still unknown to most scholars. This paper thus presents an analysis of the lithics as the first firmly demonstrated stone tools associated with Early Pleistocene human fossils in south China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic myositis ossificans (TMO) is a rare ossifying disease that occurs in the muscle or soft tissues. A case of TMO isolated in the temporalis muscle is reported. In the case described, calcification in the temporalis muscle was confirmed after computed tomography. Surgery, physiotherapy, and histopathological analysis were performed. One year after treatment, further ossification was present but without interference in function. The most accepted treatment for TMO in the maxillofacial region is excision followed by physiotherapy. The high rate of non-recurrence may be concealed due to the short follow-up period. TMO is a lesion that may frequently recur and long-term follow-up must be provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aims of this study are to identify which type of tooth has the strong relationship between age and pulp cavity/chamber volume among 13 types of tooth from the same dentition and to determine whether the inclusion of multiple types of tooth may improve the accuracy of age estimation. Materials and methods: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images from 115 females and 125 males aged between 16 and 63 years were analyzed. The DICOM data of all the images were imported into ITK-SNAP 2.4 for the calculation of pulp cavity/chamber volumes. Logarithmic regression analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were applied to establish the relationship between age and pulp cavity/chamber volumes. Results: Among the 13 types of tooth, maxillary second molars have the largest R (0.491, 0.642, and 0.498) and the smallest SEE (8.119, 6.754, and 8.022) in male, female, and pooled gender samples, respectively. The multiple linear regression analysis for the combination of multi-types of tooth indicated that a larger R (0.627, 0.701, and 0.631) and smaller SEE (7.100, 6.258, and 6.970) than the counterpart calculated from the logarithmic regression analysis of a single type of tooth in male, female, and pooled gender samples, respectively. Conclusion: The pulp chamber volume of the maxillary second molars has the largest correlation coefficient with age. Using multiple types of tooth may improve the accuracy of age estimation compared with only one type of tooth used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endogenous bursters in central pattern generators (CPGs) generate rhythmic firing patterns controlling regular movements in the organism. Based on a pacemaker kernel model of the stomatogastric ganglion (SGG) of crustaceans, we constructed three reduced models, (i) dendrite-reduced model (DRM), (ii) axon-reduced model (ARM), and (iii) primary neurite-reduced model (PNRM). Similar firing patterns were observed in two models except the axon-reduced one. Perturbing of various parameters in the models induced bifurcation phenomena in the occurrence of interspike intervals (ISIs), which depicted variation of the firing patterns. By comparing and analyzing two-dimensional parameter planes derived from the above different models, the effects of compartments on varying firing patterns were detected. In particular, a different kind of period-doubling transition mode of firing patterns, which varied via a ring-shape mode, was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: What are the specific parameters of dental health that present with modifications in osteoporosis (OP)? Both OP and a decreased bone mass can affect dental health. A low mineral density may lead to the loss of dentures because the jaw is exposed to the effects of periodontitis and without strong sustainability the teeth may lose their stability. Introduction: We compared the values of the periodontal index (IP) with a T score for women presenting with OP at menopause and those without OP. We found that there is a relation between OP and the loss of bone mass at the oral-facial level. Methods: The study included 87 patients, aged between 35 and 75 years. We correlated gums and IP with the T score for the two groups. Results: We found a significant difference between the values of the IP index for the group with OP in comparison with the control group. Thus a correlation between OP and IP was confirmed. Conclusions: IP was statistically significantly higher in women at menopause with OP than those without OP. Gum retraction was significantly higher in women at menopause with OP than in the control group. There was thus a real correlation between bone mineral density (BMD) and IP, while between BMD and dental mobility we found no correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Stomatologie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Manuelle Medizin is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Airway management in patient with restricted mouth opening is a great challenge, owing to the difficulty in laryngoscopy and visualisation of the vocal cords during the procedure of intubation. The term retrograde intubation refers to a technique in which a guide wire is passed into the trachea and then into the mouth or nose. A tracheal tube is then passed down over the guide until it enters the trachea. Material and method: A retrospective audit was undertaken to determine the success and complication associated with retrograde intubation. Results: The results show that in a sample of 20 patients in which retrograde intubation was done, only three developed sore throat and cough, one had bronchospasm and one developed infection at the site of insertion of a J-tipped catheter. Conclusion: Retrograde tracheal intubation was easy to perform and had a high success rate and a low incidence of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this study is to compare the ability of panoramic radiography and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in detecting anatomical variations of the mandibular canal and mental foramen. Methods: One hundred twenty-seven preoperative panoramic and CBCT images were evaluated. Two oral and maxillofacial radiologists investigated the presence of bifid mandibular canals and/or additional mental foramina on the right, left, or both sides of the mandible. Intra- and interobserver reliability was determined using Cohen's kappa coefficient. McNemar's test compared the prevalence of mandibular anatomical variations between panoramic radiography and CBCT. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: Additional mental foramen and bifid mandibular canal were detected in 1.2 and 7.4 % of the panoramic radiographs and 7.4 and 9.8 % of the CBCT images, respectively. The incidence of anatomical variations on the mandibular canal was not significantly different between both imaging modalities ( P > 0.05). Conclusions: Although CBCT provides better viewing of anatomical structures, including location, shape, and relationship with the surrounding area, panoramic radiography is a conventional imaging modality that can be used in the study of the bifid mandibular canals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The usage of mini anchors for the treatment of internal derangements of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is considered an innovative treatment, and it has presented excellent clinical results in the stabilization of the articular disc. This study aimed to evaluate, through mechanical tensile testing, the resistance of mini anchors for TMJ articular disc repositioning. Materials and methods: Ten thermoplastic polymer poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) mini anchors were tested in artificial polyurethane blocks with a pullout test in a mechanical Instron™ machine, model 4411. The mini anchors were pulled out until failure and the force and displacement were recorded for each specimen. A small standard deviation was noted, which indicated reproducibility. Results: The findings indicate that Cillen™ mini anchors presented a mean force at failure up to 46.1 N with similar values in the scientific literature. Nevertheless, further studies should be conducted for a comparison of PEEK mini anchors with other commercially available anchors, in addition to studies related to PEEK, a scarcely known material in the dentistry field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Manuelle Medizin is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We report a highly unusual case of unilateral absence of the mental foramen, with the inferior alveolar nerve exiting the mandible via an orifice situated on the lateral surface of the angle of the mandible. However, the teeth on this side of the dental arch had normal sensitivity, and the mandible had grown correctly. Despite the absence of intraosseous course, the inferior alveolar nerve seems to keep its neural and guide roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the presence and negotiability of second mesiobuccal (MB2) canal at pulp chamber, cervical, medium and apical levels comparing the findings obtained by anatomical evaluation with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Methods: 56 and 43 human maxillary first and second upper molars, respectively, were assessed. The specimens were placed on an acrylic platform in a stationary position to identify the presence of MB2 canal at the pulp chamber floor, cervical, medium, and apical level. The samples were analyzed using two image acquisition softwares (XoranCat and DentalSlice) and subsequently by macroscopic anatomical analysis with a 4× magnifying glass. All data were summarized, and mean values, frequencies, and percentage values were calculated for each group of specimens. Results: DentalSlice and XoranCat images of first molars showed a rate concordance index (CI) of present MB2 canals in comparison to anatomic evaluations of 65.2 and 70.1 %, respectively. On the second molars, the rate of CI reached about 80 % in both sets of images. In the first molars, 29.9 % of canals localized by XoranCat images did not display anatomical negotiability; 34.8 % of canals localized by DentalSlice images did not display anatomical negotiability. Among second molars, 18.6 % of canals localized by XoranCat did not display anatomical negotiability; 19.8 % of canals localized by DentalSlice did not display anatomical negotiability. On the first molars with anatomical negotiability, errors not identified by XoranCat and DentalSlice reached rates of 22.3 and 25.4 %, respectively. Among second molars, error rates were 8.7 % (XoranCat) and 11.6 % (DentalSlice). Conclusion: Our study indicated that (1) the tomographic image is an auxiliary way to detection and mapping of the MB2 canal in maxillary molars, (2) the tomographic image is ineffective in determining negotiability. Both image software packages used in this study showed similar results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore the patterns of tooth agenesis in Japanese orthodontic patients with bilateral agenesis of mandibular second premolars. A total of 80 Japanese orthodontic patients with 2 congenitally missing mandibular second premolars were selected as the subjects of this study (experimental group). Another 80 individuals without bilateral agenesis of mandibular second premolars were collected for comparison (control group). The 2 groups were matched with regard to sex. Radiographs, dental casts and records of medical and/or dental treatment were used to identify tooth agenesis. The Chi-square test, odds ratio, and test for equality were used to make statistical comparisons. The prevalence rates of other types of tooth agenesis were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. The occurrence of agenesis of maxillary and mandibular lateral incisors and third molars, and maxillary second premolars was also significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. Significantly increased prevalence rates of symmetrical tooth agenesis, with third molars included, and oligodontia were observed in the experimental group. Japanese subjects with bilateral agenesis of mandibular second premolars are at significantly high risk of agenesis of other types of permanent teeth, symmetrical tooth agenesis and oligodontia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of correlations of the functional parameters of the stomatognathic and postural systems with sub-, decompensated, and compensated status was carried out. Disorders in the masticatory muscle activity and interactions between the postural and stomatognathic systems were detected in patients with sub- and decompensated functional status. A significant correlation between the studied functional parameters was detected in the patients with the compensated functional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tweny patients (M: 4, F: 16, mean age 37 ± 11 years) with diagnosis of chronic daily headache (CDH), after drug withdrawal, were under electromyography, kinesiography and masticatory muscle deprogramming by TENS to identify the physiological rest position of the mandible. Our purpose was to clarify a possible role of the neuromuscular stomatognathic system. Examinations showed that 17 patients needed a neuromuscular orthosis, an occlusal device, to provisionally correct the detected discrepancies of jaw position. Of those, the 10 patients who showed an occlusal sagittal discrepancy higher than 2 mm and/or a lateral deviation higher than 0.4 mm, associated with more than three parafunctional activities, had a meaningful decrease on frequency/intensity of migraine crisis and/or of days of headache. VAS pain score during crisis decreased from 9.0 ± 0.9 to 4.9 ± 2.7; frequency of crisis were from 20.7 ± 5.2 to 9.5 ± 7.7. Baseline pain were from 5.3 ± 1.2 to 3.0 ± 1.3. Satisfying clinical results can be reached combining behavioural education and neuromuscular orthosis. This can be very helpful in patients who show significant discrepancy of jaw position that only TENS deprogramming can reveal and kinesiography can detect with such accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]