Volume 27 - Issue 2

For the past several years, I have served on a committee, which has been charged with the responsibility of investigating the writing of guidelines. To begin the process, the committee had to agree upon standardization for formulating guidelines. The initial step was to attend an advanced course at the Forsyth Institute for evidence-based learning at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Doctor Richard Niederman was the leading instructor for this course. Members of his faculty included ...

Unless you are just coming out of a coma, you are acutely aware that the economic situation is pretty bleak. Those of us living in the United States have seen the biggest financial set back, probably in our lifetimes. The effects have rippled throughout the global economy, driving markets down to levels not seen in more than a decade. Most in my age group have seen their investment portfolios set back as least ten years ...

This study clarifies the internal structure of the mandibular condyle in dentulous and edentulous jaws; three-dimensional observation and morphological measurements were performed using micro-CT. The materials used in this study were 14 mandibular condyles each removed from the dentulous and edentulous cadavers. Internal structures of the mandibular condyle were morphologically analyzed in three anatomical planes. Additionally, morphometrical observations of the trabecular bone structure at five regions of interest and cortical bone thickness were performed. The ...

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in eight healthy human subjects, the present study measured blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals during clenching in a malocclusion model, using a custom-made splint that forced the mandible to a retrusive position and a splint of no modification for control, and compared the results to the BOLD signals during the corresponding resting conditions. An individual visual analog scale (VAS) score was also examined during clenching to evaluate the interactions ...

A shortened dental arch without posterior occlusal support has been thought to maintain sufficient oral function. The mechanism of occlusal adaptation with a shortened dental arch is unclear. For a better understanding of the effects of molar teeth on brain function, the authors combined experimentally-shortened dental arches and a neuro-imaging technique. Regional cerebral blood volume was measured using near-infrared optical topography during maximum voluntary clenching tasks from 10 subjects on individually fabricated oral appliances, which ...

A prominent etiological theory proposed for TMD related headache is that it results from a dysfunctional masticatory muscle system, wherein muscle hyperactivity is frequently caused by dental temporomandibular disharmony. The central goal of this article was to determine from a literature review of the subject whether there is significant evidence to support a relationship between headaches and TMD prevalence. A second purpose was to determine from such a review whether any relationship was one of ...

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of the Full Breath Solution (FBS) appliance in the management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in 21 adults diagnosed with OSA. Oxygen saturation (SaO2) and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) readings taken from polysomnographs (PSGs) indicated that the mean AHI fell by 73% (31.3±16.3 to 7.3±6.6, p<0.0001), and the mean SaO2 improved from 84.4%±6.7 to 88 ...

The use of herbal supplements in North America is steadily growing and raises concerns about safety, efficacy, and how they affect safe patient care. The most notable and direct health risks associated with herbal supplements include hypertension, prolonged bleeding, and the potential for drug-herb interactions, which is of particular concern for patients undergoing anesthesia, both general and local anesthesia. In this article, four of the most commonly used herbs today in North America will be ...

The current scientific knowledge of TMJ pathologies points to the importance of etiological research and the need for differential diagnosis using the most modern technological resources. Those include MRI, computed tomography, serologic studies, genetic mapping, and bioelectronic instruments which allow clinicians to study, understand, and measure respectively, the structural changes of soft and hard tissues, infections, genetic susceptibility for autoimmune diseases, and stomatognathic function. The purpose of this article is an overview of the current ...

The calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease (CPPD) is a disorder that occasionally affects the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and is characterized by the presence of crystals in the intra-articular and peri-articular tissues. Diagnosis of CPPD is challenging because clinical symptoms and imaging features are not characteristic and may mimic a chondrosarcoma. A case of a 74-year-old woman with CPPD of the TMJ is reported. This disease rarely involves the TMJ and is not usually considered ...