The use of a custom-made mouthguard stabilizes the electromyographic activity of the masticatory muscles among Karate-Do athletes.

AIMS: To analyze and compare the electromyographic activity of the temporal (anterior portion) and masseter muscles among Karate-Do athletes before and after training, with and without the use of a mouthguard. METHODS: Twenty athletes (14 males and 6 females) with a mean age of 23.7 ± 7.5 years participated. They had surface electromyography recordings taken of their bilateral temporal and masseter muscles before and after training under the following conditions: no mouthguard, with a ready-made mouthguard, and with a custom-made mouthguard. Activity was examined at mandibular rest, while clenching, and at maximum voluntary contraction. The data were normalized using the mean maximum voluntary contraction. RESULTS: The right (p = 0.005) and left (p = 0.015) temporal muscles showed significantly lower electromyographic activity with a custom-made mouthguard compared with no mouthguard after training while clenching. The electromyographic activity of the temporal and masseter muscles did not show significant differences when tested at mandibular rest and while clenching before or after training with a custom-made mouthguard (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of a custom-made mouthguard preserved participants' electromyographic profiles before and after training; thus, they allow for stable muscle activity during the training of Karate-Do athletes.

Professional karate-do and mixed martial arts fighters present with a high prevalence of temporomandibular disorders.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Facial trauma in sports has been associated with temporomandibular disorders. Because of the intensity and duration of training needed for elite-level competitions, high-performance athletes can have two to five times more traumatic injuries than recreational athletes. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in high-performance martial arts fighters and compare it with the prevalence in recreational athletes and non-athletes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders was used to diagnose and classify professional karate-do practitioners (group I; n = 24), amateur karate-do practitioners (group II; n = 17), high-performance mixed martial arts fighters (group III; n = 13), and non-athletes (n = 28). The groups were compared with the chi-square test and tested for the difference between two proportions using a significance level of 5% (P < 0.05). RESULTS: The prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in groups I (54.2%; P = 0.003) and III (61.5%; P = 0.002) was significantly higher than in group IV (14.3%). The prevalence in group II was similar to that in group IV (P > 0.05). A diagnosis of arthralgia from disk displacement was made more frequently in groups I (45.8%; P = 0.013) and III (38.5%; P = 0.012) than in group IV (7.1%). The chronic pain associated with TMD was low intensity and low disability. CONCLUSIONS: While there was a high prevalence of temporomandibular disorders in the professional athletes in our study, the prevalence of the condition in recreational athletes was similar to that in individuals who did not practice martial arts.

Sanitization of sports mouthguards

Introduction: Mouthguards are removable intra-oral devices that, if used correctly, make the protection of the teeth and soft tissues such as gums, lips and cheeks from the impact during the sport activity. Objective: To know about the habits and attitudes towards the hygiene and use of mouthguards for athletes and evaluate the ability of a new product in spray form to decontaminate mouthguards. Material and methods: An interview by means of a questionnaire was conducted with 22 men, young adults, rugby players, in order to know their habits and attitudes about the use and cleaning of mouthguards. After this step, microbiological testing was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a test product in the decontamination of mouthguards. Results: The sample consists of young adults, well-educated, but who had little information about cleaning of mouthguards. Only one participant executed the decontamination adequately. By microbiological assessing the test product was effective in decontaminating the samples of mouthguards. Conclusion: The risk of saliva contamination of mouthguards, the hygiene care and storage and the need for disinfection of these devices should be better disseminated among professionals and especially among athletes. The test product was effective in decontaminating salivary mouthguards.

Fitoterapia: dos canteiros ao balcão da farmácia / Phytotherapy: from greenhouses to drugstore’s bench

Introdução: Com a recente instituição do Programa Nacional de Plantas Medicinais e Fitoterápicos dentro do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) (Portaria interministerial 2.960/2008), foi confirmado o reconhecimento da eficácia de fármacos fitoterápicos na prática clínica, sobretudo no tratamento e na prevenção de afecções de menor severidade. Como em outros campos das ciências médicas, a odontologia também deve se apropriar desse recurso para o tratamento de populações, para as quais o acesso aos medicamentos industrializados é dificultado pela condição socioeconômica desfavorável. Diferente do senso comum que permeia a sociedade urbana, a fitoterapia é uma modalidade terapêutica com fundamentação científica e com reconhecida aplicabilidade. Conclusão: Esta revisão busca trazer ao cirurgião-dentista informações que lhe permitam conhecer melhor a fitoterapia.

Introduction: Recently, with the institution of the National Program of Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapywithin the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) (interministerial directive 2960/2008), the efficacy ofphytotherapics in the clinical practice was recognized, mainly for the treatment and prophylaxis of lesssevere diseases. As well as in other medical fields, Dentistry must exploit this tool for the treatment of poorpopulations, which has no access to industrialized medication. Unlike the common sense that permeatesthe urban society, phytotherapy is a therapeutic modality based on scientific comprobation and recognizedapplicability. Conclusion: This review intends to bring some new data to dental surgeons, favoringa better accepting of the phytotherapy.

Dentes supranumerários retidos interferindo no tratamento ortodôntico / Supernumerary teeth interfering in the orthodontic treatment

Dente supranumerário é definido como um distúrbio de desenvolvimento caracterizado pela presença de um ou mais elementos dentários fora do número considerado normal de uma arcada. Na maioria das vezes o diagnóstico da presença desse elemento é feito por exames radiográficos de rotina e também se torna imprescindível para o profissional quanto ao protocolo de tratamento a ser seguido. O objetivo deste estudo é realizar uma revisão de literatura e apresentar um caso clínico de extração de dente supranumerário na face lingual da mandíbula. Com este trabalho conclui-se que é importante dar atenção à presença de dentes supranumerários para executar um planejamento cirúrgico adequado, limitando possíveis complicações

The supernumerary tooth is defined as a disturbance of development characterized by the presence of one or more dental elements out of the normal considered number of an arch. Most of the times, the diagnosis of the presence of this element is made by radiographic examinations of routine, which also becomes essential for the professional concerning the treatment protocol to be followed. The objective of this work is to carry out a literature review and present a clinical case of supernumerary tooth extraction in the region of the jaw. The conclusion is that it is important to dedicate attention to the presence of the supernumerary tooth for executing an adequate surgical planning and having a good prognostic, limiting possible complications