Vertical Dimension of Occlusion: A comparative study between Anthropometric and Knebelman's craniometric methods / Dimensión vertical oclusal: un estudio comparativo entre el método antropométrico y el método craneométrico de Knebelman

ABSTRACT The masticatory system changes as time passes. The vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) undergoes alterations due to temporomandibular joint disorders which in turn may be caused by related muscle modifications or pathological tooth wear. There are many methods to measure VDO. Among these, the anthropometric method and Knebelman's craniometric method have been shown to be the most closely related to facial biotype. The aim of this study was to compare data recorded with those two methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed with a total 200 patients. A vernier caliper was used to measure facial landmarks. Results were analyzed using paired t-test, setting the level of significance at p<0.05. There was no significant difference between the two methods but Knebelman's method had less variability. Results suggest that Knebelman's method should provide more reliability for determining VDO in all the facial biotypes studied.

RESUMEN El sistema masticatorio cambia con el paso del tiempo. La dimensión vertical oclusal sufre alteraciones que se atribuyen a trastornos temporomandibulares a su vez causados por modificaciones en la musculatura relacionada o al desgaste patológico de las piezas dentarias. Existen muchos métodos para medir la dimensión vertical, entre los cuales el método antropométrico y el método craneométrico de Knebelman mostraron ser los más vinculados con el biotipo facial. El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar datos registrados con ambos métodos. La comparación fue realizada mediante un estudio de diseño transversal descriptivo con un total de 200 pacientes, usando un calibrador vernier para realizar mediciones entre puntos faciales establecidos. Los resultados fueron analizados por medio de la prueba de t de Student para datos emparejados estableciendo el nivel de significación en P<0,05. No se encontró diferencia significativa entre los métodos, pero el método de Knebelman mostró generar menos variabilidad en sus medidas. Este último método parece proporcionar más confiabilidad para su aplicación en la determinación de la dimensión vertical oclusal en todos los biotipos faciales estudiados.

Aspectos socio demográficos y calidad de vida en salud Bucal, del personal del municipio de Azogues - Ecuador / Socio-demographic aspects and quality of life in oral health of the staff of the municipality of Azogues - Ecuador

Objetivo: Asociar los aspectos socio demográficos y la calidad de vida en salud bucal del personal del Municipio de Azogues - Ecuador. Material y métodos: La presente constituye una investigación transversal, descriptiva, observacional misma que investigó a 185 adultos, aplicándoles una encuesta para determinar aspectos relacionadas a datos personales, determinantes sociales y uso de servicio odontológico. Seguido se indagó sobre el impacto de la salud bucal en la calidad de vida utilizando el cuestionario validado Ohip -14Sp. Se efectúo análisis univariado y bivariado. Para el estudio bivariado se utilizó el Odds Ratio (OR) para asociar los factores mencionados con la calidad de vida relacionada a la salud bucal (CVRSB). Se contó con un nivel de confianza del 95% y un p<0,05. Resultados: No se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa al evaluar todas las variables con CVRSB; el grupo con la mayor prevalencia de impactos según el nivel de instrucción fueron Universitarios con un 46%; según el ingreso mensual, los de ingreso mensual menor a $1000 con un 66%; de acuerdo a la denominación laboral los trabajadores con un 53%; de acuerdo al motivo de consulta, fueron otras causas 39%. Sin embargo, a pesar de que no hay una asociación significativa, se puede apreciar que el sexo masculino fue el más impactado. Conclusiones: Las determinantes sociales y CVRSB no estuvieron asociados. Las dimensiones limitación funcional, dolor físico y obstáculos fueron las más frecuentes.

Objective: To associate the socio-demographic aspects and the quality of life in oral health of the personnel of the Municipality of Azogues - Ecuador. Material and methods: This is a transversal, descriptive, observational research that investigated 185 adults, applying a survey to determine aspects related to personal data, social determinants and use of dental service. Afterwards, the impact of oral health on the quality of life was investigated using the Ohip-14Sp validated questionnaire. Univariate and bivariate analyzes were carried out. For the bivariate study, the Odds Ratio (OR) was used to associate the aforementioned factors with the quality of life related to oral health (HRQOL). There was a confidence level of 95% and p <0.05. Results: No statistically significant association was found when evaluating all variables with CVRSB; The group with the highest prevalence of impacts according to the level of education were University students with 46%; according to the monthly income, the monthly income less than $ 1000 with 66%, according to the labor denomination the workers with 53%; according to the reason for consultation, other causes were 39%. However, although there is no significant association, it can be seen that the male sex was the most impacted. Conclusions: The social determinants and CVRSB were not associated. The dimensions of functional limitation, physical pain and obstacles were the most frequent.

Need for orthodontic treatment in a sample of Ecuadorian adolescents from Cojitambo, 2017

Aim: To determine the need for orthodontic treatment in Ecuadorian adolescents aged 13 to 18 years in Cojitambo, 2017. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive study was made including 140 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years, 50% males. For determining the prevalence of malocclusion, a visual clinical examination was performed to obtain the data required using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). Results: 37.14% of the adolescents presented a minor malocclusion (without the need for treatment), 20% a definitivemalocclusion (need for elective treatment), 30% a severe malocclusion (highly desirable treatment) and 12.86% a very severe malocclusion (mandatory treatment). No statistically significant differences were found by sex (p =0.53) or by age (p =0.05). Conclusion: There is a higher prevalence of adolescents who had a normal occlusion without the need of orthodontic treatment and the ones with the lowest prevalence were adolescents with very severe malocclusion that needed compulsory treatment, without differences by sex or age

Dental anxiety in the municipal personnnel of Biblián, Ecuador, 2018

The aim of this study was to determine the degree of dental anxiety in the staff of the Municipality of Biblián, Ecuador. A cross-sectional study was carried out using the modified Corah dental anxiety scale in its Spanish version. A total of 159 employees, 72.3% men and 27.7% women, were included. The most prevalent level of dental anxiety was mild or none (37.1%), followed by moderate anxiety (35.6%), and severe anxiety or phobia (13.8%). The most prevalent degree of anxiety in men was mild or null (28.9%), and in women this was moderate at 8.8%. In relation to age, the group aged 31 to 50 years had the highest prevalence of severe dental anxiety or phobia (9.4%). The staff of the Municipality of Biblián presented a high prevalence of mild or no anxiety

Impact of dental self-perception on the quality of life of students at the Catholic University of Cuenca, Azogues in 2018

Dental aesthetics is an important factor since it represents a determinant and influential physical stereotype on the individual in different age groups. Young people are particularly vulnerable due to the influence of social media. Thus, there is a greater collective interest in improving the appearance of their smiles, allowing them to improve their interpersonal relationships. Currently, there are several indices to assess quality of life and dental aesthetics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of dental self-perception on the quality of life of students at the Catholic University of Cuenca, Azogues, in 2018. The study included a sample of 189 students; the Aesthetic Oral Health Impact Profile (A-OHIP14) questionnaire was applied. Inferential statistics used chi-squared tests (p<0.05). No statistical significance was found between quality of life according to sex (p=0.246) or age (p=0.132). Regarding the domains, it was reported that psychological discomfort and physical pain has the highest scores (3.15-2.92), while they feeling disadvantaged and social disability had lower scores (1.5-1.56). Male students aged 18 to 21 showed the greatest impact of dental self-perception on quality of life associated with oral health.

Oral-health knowledge of Ecuadorian pregnant women

The aim of this study is to determine the level of knowledge in oral health of pregnant women who come to the Comprehensive Medical Center and Geriatric Gerontium of the IESS in Azogues-Ecuador. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 109 pregnant women from the first to the third trimester of pregnancy. A questionnaire was used to collect data, which was validated in the study by Castro et al. in Peru. The first part of the questionnaire includes questions of socio-demographic order, such as the trimester of pregnancy, level of education, urban or rural origin, and age. The second part includes 22 questions to assess the level of knowledge in various topics in oral health, such as preventive measures, understanding of oral diseases, dental care, and dental development. The responses to the second part were evaluated according to a numerical scale: 0 to 6 points were bad, 7 to 14 points were regular, and 15 to 22 points were good. The statistical analysis consisted of absolute and relative frequencies of the qualitative variables. A bivariate analysis was performed using the Chi Square test with a significance level of p <0.05. The knowledge in oral health of pregnant women was regular, reaching 82.56% in overall, 56.88% in preventive measures, 64.22% in understanding of oral diseases, 61.46% in dental care during pregnancy, and 60.55% in dental development. No differences were detected in the levels of knowledge according to the trimester of pregnancy (p = 0.38), educational level (p = 0.91), urban or rural origin (p = 0.25), or age (p = 0.98). The level of knowledge of oral health of pregnant women attending the Integral Geriatric Medical Center and Geronto IESS in Azogues-Ecuador is regular and is not associated with socio-demographic factors.