ABSTRACT
Authors investigated the effects of different jaws relations on body posture in a sample of 95 subjects. All subjects underwent a posturometric and stabilometric analysis using a computerized footboard. Tests were performed in three mandibular positions: centric occlusion, rest position and myocentric position, respectively determined by teeth engagement, joints position, and muscles contraction. All subjects showed variations of body posture in the different mandibular positions. Statistical analysis (analysis of variance for repeated measures) confirmed that postural variations in different jaws relations were significant: in particular, the SKN multiple comparison test showed that myocentric position improved postural balance on frontal plane with respect to the other jaw positions considered.
Subject(s)
Jaw Relation Record , Jaw/physiology , Posture/physiology , Analysis of Variance , Biomechanical Phenomena , Humans , Joints/physiology , Masticatory Muscles/physiology , Muscle Contraction/physiology , Rest/physiology , Tooth/physiologyABSTRACT
The aim of this pilot study was twofold. The first was to show a method for having an objective and dynamic analysis of body posture, evaluating weight distribution and its connections with different mandibular positions. The second was to verify if a neuromuscularly stimulated occlusal position, called myocentric occlusal position, is associated with a positive or negative postural charge. For the second aim a group of 20 subjects (including both males and females), was chosen. Posture of each subject was analyzed in three different conditions: centric occlusion, rest position and myocentric position. To evaluate the dynamic of posture a platform capable of measuring the weight on the feet supporting points and the related variations during time of observation and the swinging of body barycenter was used. The data showed that there is an improvement in the position of the barycenter from the centric occlusion to the myocentric position. Such an improvement can't be observed from the intercuspal position to the rest position. The results of this pilot study are discussed.
Subject(s)
Dental Occlusion, Centric , Mandible/physiology , Masticatory Muscles/physiology , Posture/physiology , Adult , Biomechanical Phenomena , Body Weight , Female , Humans , Male , Pilot Projects , Pressure , Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation , Weight-BearingABSTRACT
A sample of 30 subjects, 15 with and 15 without subjective temporomandibular joint (TMJ) complaints (noises, sounds), underwent a clinical examination, a sonography and an axiography, to detect TMJ clicking. The clinical examination found 22 noisy joints in a total of 60 TMJs considered. Axiography found 19 noisy joints and sonography 32. While 90% of the examined joints showed agreement between axiography and clinical examination (with a little higher sensitivity demonstrated by clinical examination with respect to axiography), 20% of the joints were positive for clicking in sonography only. Sonography showed a high sensitivity in detection of joint noises which suggests its utility as a screening test for early detection of craniomandibular disorders.
