Evaluation of oro-facial function in young subjects with temporomandibular disorders.

The aim of this study was to evaluate bite force (BF) and oro-facial functions at different dentition phases (initial-mixed, intermediate-mixed, final-mixed and permanent dentition) in children and adolescents diagnosed with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). The sample was selected from four public schools in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. Of the 289 participants recruited, aged 8-14 years old, 46 were placed into the TMD group. TMD was diagnosed using Axis I of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (2011). Oro-facial functions were evaluated using the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S), which involves both an interview and a clinical examination. BF was measured using a digital gnathodynamometer. Age and body mass index (BMI) were also considered. The data were analysed by the following tests: Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Student's t-test, Spearman and Pearson coefficients, Qui-square test, Fisher's exact or binomial test, as indicated. Moreover, univariate and multivariable logistic regression were applied. For the TMD group, scores associated with NOT-S interview and NOT-S total were higher than for the control group (P = 0.033 and P = 0.0062, respectively). No differences in BF between genders or groups (P > 0.05) were detected. Variables included in the multivariate logistic regression were BMI and NOT-S total. Based on this analysis, NOT-S total was associated with TMDs. Reported sensory function was the specific domain within NOT-S interview that established the significant difference between the groups (P = 0.021). The TMD group also had a greater number of alterations in the face-at-rest domain of the NOT-S exam (P = 0.007). Concluding, it did not detect an association between TMDs and either dentition phase or BF. Instead, BF correlated with age and BMI. Oro-facial dysfunction was associated with TMD in the studied sample, but this association may be bidirectional, requiring further researches.

Changes in the oral-health-related quality of life of Brazilian children after an educational preventive programme: an 1-month longitudinal evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: This 1-month longitudinal study assessed whether the oral status and the oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children changed after four sessions of an educational preventive programme. STUDY POPULATION AND METHODS: Fifty Brazilian students (11-12 year old) were examined for signs and symptoms of gingivitis using the Community Periodontal Index and two questions about gingival bleeding. The OHRQoL was measured using the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Child Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (Child-OIDP). Higher scores indicated worse OHRQoL. The results were analysed using the Shapiro-Wilk, Chi-square, Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney tests. The magnitude of the mean change was calculated using the effect size. RESULTS: Twenty-four percentage of children had more than six sites with bleeding at follow-up compared with 58% at baseline. There was a significant decline in the intensity and extension of impacts at follow-up. A significant improvement in the clinical status and oral hygiene was observed for both transitional categories. There was a significant decline in the Child-OIDP scores of those reporting 'much improved'. A significant improvement in the global ratings of oral health was observed at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In the studied sample, an improvement occurred with respect to the severity of disease, intensity and extension of impacts and global ratings of oral health after 1-month follow-up. These results suggest that improving the global transition in health by enhancing coping and management skills while inducing slight changes in the clinical status and the specific aspects of health compromised by the disease is possible.

Evaluation of masticatory performance and bite force in children with sleep bruxism.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between masticatory performance (MP) and bite force (BF) in children with sleep bruxism (SB) during the mixed dentition stage, considering also the occlusal characteristics. The sample was composed by 52 healthy children of both genders, aged 6-10 years. From those, 22 presented signs and symptoms of SB and 30 were the controls. SB diagnosis consisted of both parental report and presence of tooth wear. MP was evaluated by the individual's ability to communicate an artificial chewable test material for determining the median particle size (X50) and distribution of particles in the different sieves (b). BF was measured using a digital gnathodynamometer with fork strength of 8 mm. The results were submitted to descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney and chi-square tests, Spearman's correlation and multiple logistic regression. Mean BF and X50 did not differ between groups with and without SB. A significant negative correlation was observed between BF and X50 only in the group of children with SB. Moreover, the logistic regression model showed an association between the presence of SB and higher b index. The other independent variables included in the model showed no association with SB. BF did not differ between children with and without SB. Besides, higher BFs in children with SB meant better MP; however, they were more likely to present chewed particles retained in the larger aperture sieves, consequently requiring more chewing cycles to break down the test material in smaller particles.