Accuracy of Surface Electromyography in the Diagnosis of Pain-Related Temporomandibular Disorders in Children with Awake Bruxism.

The study assessed masticatory muscle electromyographic (EMG) activity in both children diagnosed with pain-related temporomandibular disorders (TMD-P) and awake bruxism (AB) and in children without TMD, as well as the diagnostic value of surface electromyography (sEMG) in diagnosing TMD-P in subjects with AB. After evaluation based on the Axis I of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD), 30 children diagnosed with myofascial pain were included in the myofascial pain group and 30 children without TMD diagnosis comprised the control group (mean age of 9.49 ± 1.34 years). The activity of the anterior temporal (TA) and masseter (MM) muscle was assessed bilaterally using a DAB-Bluetooth device (zebris Medical GmBH, Germany) at rest and during maximum voluntary clenching (MVC). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the normalized sEMG data. Statistically significant intergroup differences were observed in TA and MM muscle EMG activity at rest and during MVC. Moderate degree of sEMG accuracy in discriminating between TMD-P and non-TMD children was observed for TAmean, left MM, and MMmean EMG muscle activity at rest. sEMG can be a useful tool in assessing myofascial TMD pain in patients with AB.

Reply to Livas, C.; Delli, K. Comment on "Sycinska-Dziarnowska et al. The Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Interest in Orthodontic Treatment and Perspectives for the Future. Real-Time Surveillance Using Google Trends. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 5647".

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The Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Interest in Orthodontic Treatment and Perspectives for the Future. Real-Time Surveillance Using Google Trends.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak may have a large impact on orthodontic treatment. Regular orthodontic visits were strongly and widely interrupted by the unprecedented epidemiological threat. METHODS: The data regarding orthodontic queries were investigated in a real-time surveillance using Google Trends. Search terms "braces", "invisalign", "get braces", "get braces off", "braces pain" and the phrase "social distancing" were analyzed regarding the year preceding the pandemic outbreak and the time of the pandemic. Moreover, the five-year trend for queries "braces" vs. "invisalign", as an example of different types of orthodontic appliances, was compared. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in orthodontics phrase queries in the spring of 2020, connected with the worldwide restrictions and lockdowns announced all over the world. There was a lower interest in the "braces pain" query during the first lockdown in 2020. The number of searches for "invisalign" increased steadily over time, while the number of searches for "braces" was relatively stable across the investigated time period. CONCLUSIONS: The course of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a large impact on the orthodontic-related search queries. Orthodontists must be better-prepared for any sudden changes in the possible future in the epidemiological situation that may change accessibility to dental offices.

Assessment of Masticatory Muscle Function in Patients with Bilateral Complete Cleft Lip and Palate and Posterior Crossbite by means of Electromyography.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the electrical activity of the masticatory muscles in children with a bilateral complete cleft lip and palate (BCCLP) and posterior crossbite as well as in noncleft subjects with no malocclusion. Another purpose of the study was to examine the possible factors associated with this muscle activity. Methods: The study included 52 children with mixed dentition and Class I occlusions (20 patients with nonsyndromic BCCLP and 32 subjects with no clefts). All the cleft patients had posterior crossbite. The surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to identify the electrical potentials of the temporalis and masseter muscles. The electromyographical (EMG) recordings were taken with a DAB-Bluetooth Instrument (zebris Medical GmbH, Germany) at rest and during maximum voluntary clenching (MVC). The relationships between muscle EMG activity and independent variables were identified through multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The EMG activity of the temporalis muscles at rest was significantly higher in BCCLP patients with malocclusion in comparison with the noncleft subjects with normal occlusion. During MVC, significantly lower electrical potentials of the temporalis and masseter muscles were observed in cleft patients compared to the noncleft group. The presence of BCCLP, unilateral posterior crossbites, increased vertical overlap, and increased overjet are factors strongly associated with higher temporalis muscle EMG activity at rest. Conclusion: The use of surface electromyography in imaging muscle function showed that children with BCCLP and posterior crossbite exhibited altered masticatory muscle potentials at rest and during clenching. The presence of unilateral posterior crossbites, increased vertical overlap, and increased overjet had a significant impact on temporalis muscle activity in cleft patients. This knowledge is important in the aspect of early and proper diagnosis and orthodontic treatment of malocclusions, thereby achieving correct occlusion and improvement in muscle function.

[The incidence of uni- and bilateral impacted maxillary canines and their position in dental arch depending on gender and age]. / Wystepowanie klów górnych jedno- i obustronnie zatrzymanych i ich polozenie w luku zebowym w zaleznosci od plci i wieku.

INTRODUCTION: Impacted maxillary canines are common problem, which orthodontists often deal with. Definition of its position is not always easy and unequivocal. The aim of this study was evaluation of incidence of uni- and bilateral impacted maxillary canines and their position in dental arch depending on gender and age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The records of 134 patients' documentation and panoramic views with impacted maxillary canine (IMC) were studied. Study group consisted of 96 women and 38 men in age ranging from 10 to 60 years. First group consisted of 73 patients with unilateral IMC in age ranging from 10 to 60 years. Second group consisted of 61 patients with bilateral IMC in age ranging from 10 to 25 years. Palatal-vestibular position of IMC and their syntopie was defined basing on clinical and radiological study depending on gender and age. RESULTS: The results were presented in tables. In the first group (patients with unilateral impacted maxillary canine) 44 (60.3%) canines were localized in palatal position, 15 (20.6%) in vestibular position and 14 (19.2%) in axis position. In this group mesial syntopie was found in 33 (45.2%) patients, distal syntopie in 4 (5.5%) patients and vertical position was found in 36 (49.3%) patients. In the second group (patients with bilateral impacted maxillary canines) palatal position of impacted canines was found the most frequently. It constituted above half of patients of the second group. Vestibular position of canines was found in 11.66%, and axis position of canines in 13% of patients. Position's compatibility of canines with mesial syntopie was found in almost half of patients in this group. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of position of maxillary impacted canine allows to precise clinical study and thorough analysis of panoramic view. Impacted maxillary canine is more often localized in palatal position and was more often found in women than men. Left canine was more often impacted than the right one in unilateral impacted maxillary canine group.

[Dentistry anomalies in patients with Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis]. / Zaburzenia stomatologiczne u osób z zespolem Lyncha i rodzinna polipowatoscia gruczolakowata.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was evaluation of kind and frequency of dental anomalies in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and Lynch syndrome (HNPCC), and analysis of dento-osseus abnormalities on panoramic views. MATERIAL AND METHODS: FAP group consisted of 15 patients with mutation of APC gene, HNPCC group consisted of 30 patients with mutation of MSH2 or MLH1 genes. Control groups consisted of 15 and 30 patients matched by a ratio of 1:1 in relation with age and sex. Examination included: history, physical examination (extra- and intraoral) and assessment of panoramic view. DMF index, OHI-S index, clinical and radiologic PI index, occlusion and presence of pathologic dental abrasion and parafunctions were assessed in intraoral examination. RESULTS: The results are presented in figures and tables. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The kind and frequency of dental anomalies is comparable with changes typical to Polish population. 2. Osseus changes like osteomas, DBI's, hazy sclerosis and dental changes like supernumerary and impacted teeth are typical for patients with FAP. The frequency and appearance of this changes is higher than in general population. 3. Knowledge of kind and frequency of dental abnormalities may help in diagnosis and prevention of hereditary colon cancer by dentists.

[Localisation of maxillary impacted canines by using a selected angle and linear indices]. / Okreslenie polozenia zatrzymanego kla górnego przy uzyciu wybranych wskazników katowych i liniowych.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the work was to present a diagnostic value of selected indices and angles in orthodontic-surgical treatment of impacted maxillary canine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 134 records with panoramic views of patients treated in the Department of Orthodontics of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin because of occurrence of impacted maxillary canine (IMC) constituted the study material. Both linear (for example: the relation of length to mesial-distal width of IMC, and relation of mesial-distal width of IMC to the mesial-distal width of medial incisor on the side of IMC) and angle indices (the angle between the long axis of IMC and occlusal plane) were calculated on the outline of each IMC and neighboring teeth. RESULTS: The study showed that values of described indices were dependent on the vestibular-palatal position of IMC. The relation of the length to the mesial-distal width of IMC assumed the highest values for vestibulary positioned canines with regard to decreased width of the crown of these canines on the panoramic view (a phenomenon of parallax). The relation of the mesial-distal width of IMC to the mesial-distal width of IMC of the opposite side in the group of persons with unilaterally IMC had lower mean values in case of vestibular IMC, identically like the relation of the mesial-distal width of IMC to the mesial-distal width of medial incisor on the side of IMC. The value of the relation of the distance of the root's apex of IMC from the median line to the distance of the incisor cusp of IMC from the median line amounted from 1.21-3.28, and its increase was evidence of a more verticular position of IMC. The mean value of the angle between the long axis of IMC and the occlusal plane (oz angle) oscillated between 51.6-85.6 degrees for unilateral IMC, and between 46.7-90 degrees for bilateral IMC, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The described indices can be supportive in the assessment of localizing unilateral and bilateral IMC. 2. They assume various values for right- and left-sided impacted upper canines, both palatally and vestibularly positioned. 3. The value of the oz angle is dependent on syntopie of IMC.