Incidence of abnormalities in temporomandibular joints in a population of 1,100 urban and rural patients lacking teeth and other parafunctions in 2003-2008. An international problem.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: A hectic lifestyle and everyday stress are direct causes of parafunctions. The objective of the presented study was to examine the relation of sleep disorders, distant pain symptoms, symptoms of pathological tooth wear in rural and urban patients with parafunctions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patient group consisted of 836 women and 274 men aged 9-82, and divided into groups taking into account the following criteria: number of patients in certain age groups, number of women and men, place of residence, presence of missing teeth problem, presence of occlusal and non-occlusal parafunctions, symptoms of tooth wear, distant pain symptoms, and sleep disorders. RESULTS: 354 (31.89%) of the patients came from the rural environment. Distant pain symptoms were more frequent in patients performing parafunctions than in those who did not perform parafunctions (n = 1110, RR = 1.10, CI = from 1.04 to 1.16). Sleep disorders were more frequent in patients performing parafunctions than in those who do not perform parafunctions (n = 1110, RR = 1.06, CI = from 1.00 to 1.12). Symptoms of pathological tooth wear were more frequent in patients performing parafunctions than in those who did not perform parafunctions (n = 1110, RR = 1.08, CI = from 1.02 to 1.13). CONCLUSIONS: It is extremely important (as it is international problem) to introduce prophylactic care to prevent the occurrence of parafunctional activity in patients from the rural environment. Parafunctions, therefore, should be taken into account in the diagnosing procedure of such disorders and pathological symptoms as pathological tooth wear, sleep disorders, cervicalgia, neck myalgia, shoulder girdle myalgia, and dorsalgia.

Correlation between eye and ear symptoms and lack of teeth, bruxism and other parafunctions in a population of 1006 patients in 2003-2008.

INTRODUCTION: Parafunctions (harmful habits) play a crucial role in the formation of temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction syndrome with disc displacement. Disorder symptoms in temporo-mandibular joints manifest themselves in the eye and ear but are usually not associated with the dysfunction of temporo-mandibular joints and that might lead to errors in diagnosis. The aim of the study was to examine the influence of missing teeth and parafunctions on the occurrence of ear and eye symptoms in patients treated in the Department of Prosthodontics of the Medical University of Lublin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patient group consisted of 753 women and 253 men aged 10 to 82 years who had been treated in the Department of Prosthodontics, Medical University of Lublin in the years 2003-2008 due to various symptoms associated with temporo-mandibular joint dysfunction. RESULTS: Eye (24.84%, n = 785) and ear (33.38%, n = 785) syndromes occur on average more often in patients with parafunctions than without them (15.98%, n = 219 and 23.29%, n = 219). However, only parafunctions involving tooth contact should be taken into consideration when diagnosing eye and ear syndromes. The data presented here show that the number of missing teeth does not have a significant influence on the frequency of occurrence of parafunctions. Parafunctions have become a very important factor in the diagnosis of diseases and pathological symptoms of eye and ear as the rate at which they occur is growing. CONCLUSIONS: The kind of parafunction is very important. Only those involving tooth contact should be taken into consideration when diagnosing eye and ear syndromes.

Diagnostic abilities of three-dimensional electronic axiography on the basis of ARCUSdigma device.

The ARCUSdigma is an electronic facebow enabling presentation and graphic analysis of mandibular movements on the computer screen. A kinematic hinge axis of the mandible can be determined using this device. The paper presents the diagnostic potential of the ARCUSdigma in relation to programming an articulator according to individual parameters of mandibular movements of the patient and its application in the diagnosis of temporo-mandibular joints.

Iatrogenic pain dysfunction syndrome of the masticatory system--case study.

A female patient, age 71, came to The Department of Prosthetic Dentistry University School of Medicine in Lublin with pain dysfunction syndrome after treatment by extensive prosthesis of upper and lower dental arches. After examination many abnormalities of prosthetic restorations were ascertained. After 21 months of repositioning occlusal splint treatment the symptoms of pain dysfunction were gone, which permitted final prosthetic restoration. This case proves that using repositioning occlusal splint should be the first choice procedure in the treatment of iatrogenic pain after prosthetic treatment.