1,720,962 research outputs found
The Impact of Orthodontic Treatment on Masticatory Performance: A Literature Review
Full text linkThe aim of this narrative review was to evaluate the possible association between orthodontic therapy and improved masticatory function. A search strategy was conducted using the PubMed database for up to January 2020 using the keywords “mastication” and “orthodontics”. Only human studies investigating mastication in orthodontics settings were selected. The search strategy resulted in 1,011 articles, out of which 57 were included in the final analysis. Investigations have generally agreed that masticatory and chewing functions improved post-orthodontic and orthognathic treatments. Studies also showed improvement in the quality of life of patients' post-orthodontic treatment. The articles examined reinforced that besides esthetic reasons, orthodontic therapy does improve the masticatory and chewing functions of individuals, ultimately enhancing their health-related quality of life
Long-Term Impact of Orthodontic Treatment on Oral Behaviours, Temporomandibular Disorder-Related Pain, and Anxiety: An 18-Month Prospective Study
Full text linkObjective: Orthodontic treatment is a common approach for correcting malocclusion but is often associated with discomfort. The aim of this study was to assess the longitudinal changes in oral behaviours, temporomandibular disorder (TMD)-related pain and anxiety among university students undergoing orthodontic treatment compared to untreated controls. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at the University of Trieste, Italy. Participants were grouped based on the presence or absence of active orthodontic treatment and asked to complete an electronic survey comprising the Oral behaviour checklist-21 (OBC-21), TMD pain screener and generalised anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) at baseline (T0), after 6 months (T1), 12 months (T2) and 18 months (T3). Repeated measures ANOVA analysed within-group changes over time, while mixed ANOVA assessed group–time interactions. Results: A total of 114 participants completed all follow-ups, with 57 in each group and comparable sex distribution. In the orthodontic group, no significant changes were observed across the three measures (p > 0.05). The non-orthodontic group showed a slight increase in OBC-21 scores after 12 months (p = 0.034) and a decrease in GAD-7 scores after 18 months (p = 0.048). Mixed ANOVA confirmed the absence of significant changes in the pattern of scores between the orthodontic and non-orthodontic groups over time (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Orthodontic treatment does not significantly influence oral behaviours, TMD-related pain or anxiety over time. Routine screening for these factors in orthodontic patients is not required as a standard practice for all orthodontic patients; instead, individualised assessment should be based on clinical indications
Painful yawning and temporomandibular disorder: a cross-sectional study among Italian patients
Full text linkObjective: Orofacial pain is a common symptom associated with various conditions, including temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Painful yawning, a form of orofacial pain, may be related to TMD, though no studies have conclusively established this connection. This study aimed to examine the relationship between painful yawning and TMD and to investigate factors influencing the occurrence of painful yawning in both TMD and non-TMD populations. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Clinica di Chirurgia Maxillofacciale e Odontostomatologica di Trieste, Italy, between January 2018 and June 2021. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Bivariate analysis was used to compare means between various variables and the presence of painful yawning. Binary logistic regression was performed to confirm associations between independent variables and painful yawning and to quantify the strength of these relationships in terms of odds ratios and confidence intervals. Results: A total of 1,725 patients participated, with a mean age of 50 years, and 61.4% were females. 16% of the population had TMD. Painful yawning was significantly more common among the TMD group (49%) compared to the non-TMD group (14.2%). Bivariate analysis revealed significant associations between painful yawning and age, sex, TMD status, and yawning frequency (p < 0.05). A strong association was observed between painful yawning and TMD (Cramér’s V = 0.32), with moderate associations with sex (Cramér’s V = 0.144) and yawning frequency (Cramér’s V = 0.176). Binary logistic regression confirmed its relationship with female sex, TMD presence, and frequent yawning. TMD increased the likelihood of painful yawning by six times, while frequent yawning increased the risk by five times, and female sex doubled the risk. Conclusion: The study demonstrates a significant association between TMD and painful yawning, suggesting that painful yawning could serve as a potential indicator for early TMD detection, which warrants further validation. Additionally, factors such as sex and yawning frequency were found to increase the likelihood of painful yawning, irrespective of TMD status
Efficacy of the CerveraTS Plate in an Integrated Approach to Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Long-Term Case Report
Full text linkJuvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic rheumatic disease of unknown etiology affecting children. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement has been reported in up to 96% of children with JIA. This paper presents a case of JIA with TMJ involvement, emphasizing the clinical features and therapeutic management of the disease. This is a case of a 10-year-old female who presented with pain localized at the left mandible angle during end-feel assessment. During examination, reduced range of motion (ROM) and limited right lateral excursion were observed. Afterwards, a comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation led to diagnosing the patient with oligoarticular JIA involving the TMJ. Treatment modality included cognitive behavioral therapy, left-sided joint distraction exercises to reduce intra-articular pressure and relax affected masticatory muscles, and a modified CerveraTS plate. Three months of posttreatment follow-up showed pain remission, improved ROM, and enhanced right lateral excursion. Sustained therapeutic outcomes were reported after 1 and 3 years of follow-up visits. The case emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis of JIA with TMJ involvement and tailored management using functional appliances such as the CerveraTS plate which has proved its efficacy in improving mandibular function and pain resolution
Evaluation of objective masticatory performance: an experimental study in healthy adults
Full text linkAbstract This study aimed to objectively assess masticatory performance and to identify related factors among healthy adults. An experimental study was conducted on 75 healthy adults with a mean age of 51 years between January and June 2023. Masticatory performance was objectively assessed using the sieve method. Spearman correlation examined the association between masticatory performance and age, Functional Tooth Units (FTUs), and total Oral Behavior Checklist-21 (OBC-21) scores. Mann–Whitney U test was used to examine its relationship with sex. Linear Regression was performed to test each factor’s relationship with masticatory performance after controlling for other factors. Masticatory performance was associated with age (Spearman coefficient: -0.35, p = 0.002), and FTUs (Spearman coefficient: 0.66, p < 0.001), with higher FTU scores associated with a 30% improvement in chewing performance. Sex and OBC scores showed no significant effect on mastication performance. Multiple linear regression confirmed strong association between masticatory performance and FTUs (standardized ß = 0.670, p < 0.001). FTUs is the major determinant of masticatory performance. Restoring and preserving FTUs through dental care can significantly improve mastication, nutrition, and quality of life, particularly for older individuals
TMD Patients With High Pain-Related Disability Have Higher Oral Behaviour Scores Than Individuals Without Pain and TMD Patients With Low Pain-Related Disability
No full textBackground: Some studies suggest that oral behaviours, such as clenching, grinding and nail biting, are common in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). However, the relationship between oral behaviours and key aspects of TMDs, such as pain-related disability, remains unexplored. Study Objective: The study aimed to assess the relationship between oral behaviours and pain in TMD patients with low or high pain–related disability, compared to pain-free individuals without TMD (non-TMD). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, adult participants who attended the dental unit at the University of Trieste, Italy, between January 2018 and June 2021 were asked to complete the oral behaviour checklist (OBC) and graded chronic pain scale (GCPS). OBC total score and item scores were compared between TMD patients with low pain–related disability, TMD patients with high pain–related disability and pain-free individuals without TMD, using one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons. Results: A total of 1581 patients participated, of whom 1304 were pain-free, 234 were TMD patients with low pain–related disability and 43 were TMD patients with high pain–related disability. Average OBC total scores were 12.2 ± 8.8 for pain-free non-TMD participants, 17.2 ± 10.9 for TMD patients with low pain–related disability and 23.16 ± 12.15 for TMD patients with high pain-related disability. Significant differences were found across all pairwise comparisons (p < 0.001). Specific oral behaviours, such as awake and sleep-related clenching, were notably higher in both TMD groups compared to the pain-free group. Conclusion: A significant association between pain-related disability and oral behaviours in TMD patients has been demonstrated
Association between oral behaviors and generalized anxiety in a sample of university students: A cross-sectional study
No full textObjective: This study aimed to describe the frequency of oral behaviors and generalized anxiety among university students and assess their association using the Oral Behavior Checklist-21 (OBC-21) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Methods: An online questionnaire was sent to students at the University of Trieste, Italy. Mann-Whitney U compared OBC-21 scores by sex; Spearman Correlation and linear regression (adjusted for age and sex) assessed the association between OBC-21 and GAD-7 scores. Fisher's exact test examined categorical relationships. Results: A total of 1,687 students completed the questionnaire (response rate 9.5%; 73% females). Mean OBC-21 and GAD-7 scores were 23.9 ± 8.3 and 9.5 ± 5.2, respectively. Higher OBC-21 scores were associated with younger age (p = 0.004) and females sex (p < 0.001). Oral behaviors and anxiety were moderately correlated (r = 0.42, p < 0.001), confirmed by regression. Categorized scores also showed a significant association (p < 0.001, Cramér's V = 0.308). Conclusion: Oral behaviors are significantly associated with generalized anxiety in university students, underscoring the importance of integrating mental health assessment into oral health care
Artificial intelligence to support early diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders: A preliminary case study
Full text linkBackground Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are disabling conditions with a negative impact on the quality of life. Their diagnosis is a complex and multi-factorial process that should be conducted by experienced professionals, and most TMDs remain often undetected. Increasing the awareness of un-experienced dentists and supporting the early TMD recognition may help reduce this gap. Artificial intelligence (AI) allowing both to process natural language and to manage large knowledge bases could support the diagnostic process. Objective In this work, we present the experience of an AI-based system for supporting non-expert dentists in early TMD recognition. Methods The system was based on commercially available AI services. The prototype development involved a preliminary domain analysis and relevant literature identification, the implementation of the core cognitive computing services, the web interface and preliminary testing. Performance evaluation included a retrospective review of seven available clinical cases, together with the involvement of expert professionals for usability testing. Results The system comprises one module providing possible diagnoses according to a list of symptoms, and a second one represented by a question and answer tool, based on natural language. We found that, even when using commercial services, the training guided by experts is a key factor and that, despite the generally positive feedback, the application's best target is untrained professionals. Conclusion We provided a preliminary proof of concept of the feasibility of implementing an AI-based system aimed to support non-specialists in the early identification of TMDs, possibly allowing a faster and more frequent referral to second-level medical centres. Our results showed that AI is a useful tool to improve TMD detection by facilitating a primary diagnosis
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
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