Volume 15 - Issue 1

Using the mouth as an “in vivo articulator,” the bilateral nonmasticatory (“empty”) contact patterns of opposing cuspid and first molar teeth were determined in two healthy subjects with well-defined cuspid function and two healthy subjects with well-defined group function. The electronically recorded “empty” contact patterns pertained to the static intercuspal position and dynamic laterotrusion to the right and the left. On the basis of the “empty” tooth contact patterns and the number of electronically recorded ...

The purpose of this study is to assess what impact shortening disclusion time to less than .5 seconds during right and left mandibular excursions has on myofascial pain(s) symptoms present in a dental student population. Twenty-five dental students, who exhibited symptomatology consistent with myofascial pains patients, were divided into a treatment, control, and an untreated group. They participated in ...

Intramuscular EMG of the lateral pterygoid muscles (LPM), surface EMG of the temporalis and masseter muscles and force measurements of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) were synchronously used to investigate the biomechanical role of the two heads of the LPM in relation to internal derangement (ID) of the TMJ. EMG and kinetic analysis of five static conditions (resting, protraction, opening, molar and incisor clenching) and three maximum isometric masticatory forces (opening, molar and incisor clenching) were ...

Tricyclic antidepressants, or “tricyclics” as they are commonly called, are effective in reducing pain in chronic neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. Tricyclics appear to be effective in the control of chronic orofacial pain of non-inflammatory origin, and include amitriptyline, doxepin, nortriptyline and desipramine. Daily doses of the medications are smaller for the management of pain than doses typically used in the treatment of depression. Certain medical conditions may contraindicate tricyclic trials, while others may warrant starting ...

The effect on isometric strength of the shoulders and limbs while biting in habitual occlusion, on a bite-elevating appliance and on a placebo appliance was analyzed. Twenty female volunteer patients, presenting with temporomandibular pain dysfunction syndrome and obvious loss of vertical dimension, served as subjects. All were weaker to the manual application of the Isometric Deltoid Press (IDP) when biting ...

The aim of this article is to present scientific and clinical evidence to support the role of proper head and neck posture in the management of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Obstruction of the upper-airway during sleep is a serious medical condition often associated with severe daytime somnolence, morning headache, and a host of cardiopulmonary complications, including but not limited to systemic and pulmonary hypertension, nocturnal cardiac dysrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Though anti-snoring pillows ...

The orthopedic literature has clearly demonstrated that the physical stimulus of motion is essential for the maintenance of the structural and functional integrity of synovial joints. As a result of this information, rehabilitation with passive motion has become an extremely important part of the rehabilitation of synovial joints throughout the body, especially when there is limited range of motion. This same biological principle must be applied to the temporomandibular joint, especially when there is limitation ...

A 42 year old female with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) was treated by anterior mandibular repositioning which was followed-up clinically and tomographically. The authors tomographically reconfirmed the mandibular repositioning and discovered a type of condyle remodeling which they had not seen previously. Although clinical signs and symptoms of TMD were removed and the condyle was centered tomographically by the anterior repositioning, the MRI image indicated the disk was displaced anteriorly and laterally. The results suggest that ...

Two cases with pain profiles characteristic of cluster-like headache, both within and outside the trigeminal system, are reported. One male patient would typically awaken from sleep with severe unilateral temporal head pain and autonomic signs of ipsilateral lacrimation and nasal congestion. A female patient exhibited severe unilateral boring temporal and suboccipital head pain with associated ipsilateral lacrimation and rhinorrhea. In ...