Volume 16 - Issue 1

The effect of anterior repositioning (AR) splint therapy on masticatory muscle activity was investigated in seventeen patients with internal derangement; disk displacement with reduction in particular. Integrated electromyography (EMG) recordings from the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles were analyzed quantitatively during maximal biting in intercuspal position before and after eight week treatment period. EMG recordings were taken for each subject prior to the beginning of clinical therapy and final EMG recordings were made without AR ...

Chronic pain is the major complaint of myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome (MPDS) and is a complex problem which involves physical, psychological and social aspects. The etiology of MPDS is multifactorial and the multidisciplinary approach is essential for differential diagnosis and for comprehensive treatment planning. In 1993, the Dental School of Piracicaba-UNlCAMP, Brazil, opened a Center for Pain Studies (CPS), staffed by health care providers including, dentists, psychologists, physicians, physiotherapists and phonoaudiologists. The major aims of ...

A physiotherapeutic approach, with manual maneuvers and/or distraction appliances, is indicated in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) to prevent the progressive fibrosis of the muscle fibers. In this article, the authors report preliminary results of experimental and clinical studies conducted to assess the real effect of distraction in temporomandibular joint disorders. The experimental invivo studies confirmed the ...

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a broad category involving dysfunction of the skeletomuscular structures of the head and neck, and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). A total of 66 patients, 54 with TMD, participated in this study. Group 1 (G1) had 31 patients suffering from early to intermediate stage disease, and no prior surgeries. G1 patients had arthrotomy/meniscectomy performed on the ...

Six patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea completed titration of an adjustable oral appliance, called the Silencer, during a single night of polysomnography. This protocol allowed for rapid titration of the oral appliance and effective treatment of sleep apnea. Variables which showed improvement included frequency of obstructive events, oxyhemoglobin saturation and snoring. Dental appliance adjustments with the silencer device can be made within three minutes. We have demonstrated that incremental mandibular advancement and repositioning allow ...

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of bony asymmetry between the right (R) and left (L) mandibular condyles and rami. On 25 dry skulls, condylar height, breadth and length, as well as ramus height and breadth were assessed. On each skull the average of the three measurements on the right and left sides, respectively, were calculated with the corresponding reference points being redetermined for each measurement. The raw absolute differences R ...

This is a case report of a 71-year-old female with pain in the right TMJ, who was also suffering from Parkinson’s Disease and was treated using a new intraoral occlusal appliance. The new appliance was designed to limit excessive mandibular excursion to the right side by restricting the mediotrusive movement of the left coronoid process. The appliance significantly suppressed involuntary mandibular excursion.

No abstract available.