The influence of bone mineral density and body mass index on resorption of edentulous jaws.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the relation of osteoporosis and body mass index to edentulous jaw bone resorption. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study included 48 postmenopausal totally edentulous female patients, aged 50 to 84 years (average age 69.73), with period of at least 2 years after last tooth extraction. Bone mineral density was determined in the femoral neck and the lumbar area L2-L4 by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) using Lunar DEXA DPX-NT, GE Medical Systems hardware. Body mass index was calculated (BMI (kg/m(2))) using data from DEXA results. Lateral cephalogram (Pantomograph Trophycan C), and radiological measurement in the symphysis of the mandible was performed for each patient. Degree of the edentulous residual ridge resorption was determined clinically on diagnostic casts of anatomic impressions by classification of Kalk. RESULTS: There is no statistically significant difference between groups, comparing mandibular bone height changes (p=0.054) and various degrees of residual ridge resorption in maxilla (p=0.743) and mandible (p=0.752) with different bone mineral contents. There is a statistically significant correlation between radiological mandibular measurement and body mass index (p=0.004). Statistically significant difference is also observed between various degrees of residual ridge resorption in maxilla (p=0.049) and mandible (p=0.027) and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Resorption of edentulous jaw bone does not increase when bone mineral density decreases. More severe manifestation of edentulous jaw bone resorption is observed in patients with diminished body mass index.

Construction faults associated with complete denture wearers' complaints.

Edentulism is considered a poor health outcome and may compromise the quality of life. Although the number of adults losing their natural teeth is diminishing, there are still large numbers of edentulous adults in the population. A retrospective study was conducted with information derived from literature (from 1984 till 2004) about the patients who experienced ongoing difficulties with new complete dentures, to determine possible underlying causes. Relationships were observed when denture construction or design faults were compared with patient complaints and the advised solution of the problem. CONCLUSION. This study suggests that in most instances, complete denture patients present with complaints only when there is real design fault. Clinician must carefully evaluate the denture for faults in denture base extension and horizontal and vertical jaw relationships.

Jaw tracking devices--historical review of methods development. Part I.

Chewing or mastication is one of the main functions of the stomatognathic system. The use of devices for quantitatively measuring mandibular motion has recently become more common in scientific and clinical use. Often, the goal has been to provide an objective basis for diagnosing musculoskeletal disorders of the jaws, to monitor the progress of active treatment methods or to evaluate prosthodontic treatment functional results. To better understand differences between various systems to record mandibular motion a review of recording methods presented over the years was made. To give fundamental description for development of existing methods review was divided in three parts. Part I includes analyses of methods using mechanical devices, photographic methods and roentgenographic methods, describing not only technologies by themselves, but also analyzing essential limitations, possible direction of the functional improvement and, specially, their scientific and clinical significance.

The masticatory system--an overview.

Masticatory muscle physiology has been evaluated mostly from electromyographic recordings. However, electromyography coupled with jaw-tracking devices has provided much more information of the correlation between jaw movements and muscle activity. Knowledge of how the mandible moves during mastication has greatly influenced procedures in clinical dentistry. The aim of this overview is to give basic description of the classical studies of the physiology, function and neural control principles of the mastication. Mastication is the action of breaking down of food, preparatory to deglutition. This breaking-down action is highly organized complex of neuromuscular and digestive activities. The duration and forces developed in the power stroke vary within and between individuals and for the type of the food being chewed. It has been suggested that the observation of masticatory movements may be of diagnostic value for assessing disorders of the stomatognathic system, but there is not clear evidence to show significant differences. The action of masticatory muscles during chewing varies between subjects in amplitude, onset timing, and duration of the chewing cycle. Since tooth guidance has an enormous influence on muscle activity during chewing and swallowing, it is advisable to make restorations compatible with the functional movement patterns of the patient rather than expect the patterns of the mastication to adapt to the new made restorations.

Jaw tracking devices--historical review of methods development. Part II.

Chewing or mastication is one of the main functions of the stomatognathic system. The use of devices for quantitatively measuring mandibular motion has recently become more common in scientific and clinical use. Often, the goal has been to provide an objective basis for diagnosing musculoskeletal disorders of the jaws, to monitor the progress of active treatment methods or to evaluate prosthodontic treatment functional results. To better understand differences between various systems to record mandibular motion a review of recording methods presented over the years was made. To give fundamental description for development of existing methods review was divided in three parts. Part II includes analyses of electronic and telemetric methods, magnetometry and opto-electronic methods, describing not only technologies by themselves, but also analyzing essential limitations, possible direction of the functional improvement and, specially, their scientific and clinical significance.