Photogrammetry and Its Potential Application in Medical Science on the Basis of Selected Literature.

Photogrammetry is a science and technology which allows quantitative traits to be determined, i.e. the reproduction of object shapes, sizes and positions on the basis of their photographs. Images can be recorded in a wide range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. The most common is the visible range, but near- and medium-infrared, thermal infrared, microwaves and X-rays are also used. The importance of photogrammetry has increased with the development of computer software. Digital image processing and real-time measurement have allowed the automation of many complex manufacturing processes. Photogrammetry has been widely used in many areas, especially in geodesy and cartography. In medicine, this method is used for measuring the widely understood human body for the planning and monitoring of therapeutic treatment and its results. Digital images obtained from optical-electronic sensors combined with computer technology have the potential of objective measurement thanks to the remote nature of the data acquisition, with no contact with the measured object and with high accuracy. Photogrammetry also allows the adoption of common standards for archiving and processing patient data.

Assessment of the TMJ Dysfunction Using the Computerized Facebow Analysis of Selected Parameters.

THE PURPOSE OF THE PAPER: Qualitative and quantitative analysis of selected parameters of mandible movements, electronically registered in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction and healthy ones. MATERIAL: Function test of the mandible movements was conducted in 175 patients. Gender distribution was 143 women and 32 men, aged 9 to 84. METHODS: The studied population, after accurate clinical examination, was divided into age groups with the range of five years. All the patients had Zebris JMA computerized facebow examination done, according to the generally accepted principles and procedures. RESULTS: Mean values of mouth opening calculated to 45.6 mm in healthy group and 37.6 mm in TMJ dysfunction group. Mean length of condylar path amounted to 39 ± 7% of the maximum value of mouth opening in the group of healthy people, 44 ± 11% in the case of muscle-based disorders, and 35 ± 11% with joint-based. The mean value of the condylar path inclination oscillated in the range of 25° to 45°. CONCLUSIONS: The ratio of length of the condylar path to the size of mouth opening may be a significant value characterising the type and degree of intensification of the TMJ dysfunctions.

Muscle activity in the course of rehabilitation of masticatory motor system functional disorders.

On the basis of selected cases, evaluation of the usefulness of muscular exercises in rehabilitation of patients stricken by a dysfunction of the motor system of the chewing organ was accomplished. The assessment of the electric function of chewing muscles together with the registration of mandibular movements with the axiographic Zebris JMA apparatus was made, both before and after muscular therapy. The examination has shown that regardless of micro or macro-traumatic cause, the set of muscular exercises appropriately selected and dutifully carried out is able to restore full condition of the motor system of the bone-dental structure effectively.

Effect of pathological tooth wear on the content of calcium, magnesium, zinc and phosphate in human dentin.

AIM: To compare the mineral content of the dentin of worn versus unworn teeth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Coronal dentin samples were collected from twenty one premolar teeth extracted for prosthetic or periodontal indications, including 11 intact teeth and 10 teeth with a significant occlusal wear. Samples were placed in concentrated nitric acid and diluted 500 times for the analysis of calcium and magnesium content and 11 times for the analysis of zinc. Contents of calcium, magnesium and zinc ions were established by means of atomic absorption spectrometry in an oxygen acetylene flame. The content of phosphorus was established by means of spectrophotometry using a test basing on a reaction of colour phosphoric-molybdenic complex formation. Data normality was assessed with Shapiro-Wilk test. Student's t-test was used for all comparisons. RESULTS: A statistically significantly higher content of magnesium and a lower Ca/Mg ratio were found in worn teeth at the 5% level. The concentrations of the other minerals analysed were not significantly different between the worn and intact teeth at the 5% level. CONCLUSION: Higher magnesium content in the dentin of human worn teeth may constitute a defence reaction to dentin exposure.

[The influence of polymerization time on physicochemical properties of the acrylic resin Vertex RS]. / Wplyw czasu polimeryzacji na wlasciwosci fizykochemiczne tworzywa akrylowego Vertex R.S.

INTRODUCTION: A good denture can only be produced through proper actions during the clinical and laboratory stages of the production process. The aim of this study was to determine if a change in polymerization time affects the physicochemical properties of polymethacrylate material used for dentures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined the acrylic resin Vertex R.S. polymerized for 15, 25, 40, or 60 minutes. Palapress Vario was taken as reference material. Static bending, microhardness, surface wettability, and susceptibility to abrasion were determined. RESULTS: The microhardness test showed that most of the samples had similar Vickers hardness (VS) values, except for the sample polymerized for 25 min. which demonstrated a significantly higher value. Grindability was affected by a change in polymerization time. Mass loss was greatest for samples polymerized for 15, 25, and 60 min. and smallest for Vertex 40 and Palapress Vario. We also observed differences in the wetting angle. Vertex 40 and 60 had a relatively low wetting angle signifying that longer polymerization time results in lower hydrophobicity of the material. CONCLUSION: The present study has demonstrated that polymerization time has a significant effect on the hardness and some mechanical properties of the acrylic resin.

[Dental status, parodontium condition and occurrence of malocclusions in conscripts from the West Pomeranian Voivodship, Poland]. / Stan uzebienia, przyzebia oraz wystepowanie wad zgryzu u poborowych województwa zachodniopomorskiego.

INTRODUCTION: System transformation in Poland after 1989 began the series of changes in the country, both favorable and negative in relation to the health of oral cavity. The aim of this study was to collect the up-to-date information in realtion to the occurrence and intensity of the most common diseases and disorders of the masticatory system in the West-Pomeranian population of young males, as well as the evaluation of degree of achievement of WHO targets for a year 2000 and a chance of reaching WHO targets for a year 2010. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Dental research was carried out on the group 720 conscripts, aged 18-19 years, from the West-Pomeranian Voivodship in Poland. RESULTS: Frequency of the caries in the examined group amounted to 98.62% and did not differ significantly in relation to the place of residence and formal education. The coefficient of the caries treatment was 0.47. The full dentition was maintained only by 78.47% of the examined young people. The healthy parodontium was observed only in 22.64% boys. Only 1/3 of the examined did not have malocclusion, and orthodontic treatment was recommended for 32.78% of the young people. Abnormalities in the functioning of temporal-mandibular joints was observed in 49.17% young people. CONCLUSIONS: We observed essential differences in the state of the masticatory organ, in relation to the place of residence and education. Conscripts from the West-Pomeranian voivodship, Poland, did not reach WHO targets for this age group for a year 2000, in relation to the health of the oral cavity.

Bacteria adhesion to the surface of various prosthetics materials.

Increased life span of humans and dynamic development of prosthetic treatment has caused that increased number of people are using removable dentures for longer periods of time. The materials used to make those prosthesis are becoming a potential pathogen factor for oral mucosa being in contact with this material. Prosthetic stomatopathy occurs in 20% to 70% of the patients who are using removable dentures. The present paper evaluates and compares adhesion of bacterial plague to the most common materials used for removable dentures i.e. acrylic material Vertex R.S., metal alloy used for frame prosthesis and a material which is an alternate to acrylic resin and acetal metal-resin Acetal Pressing D. Samples were made from the above mentioned materials and placed in mediums with four basic bacteria cultures and fungus Candida albicans (fungus) as the adhesion of bacterial plague to individual materials was evaluated. Such an evaluation facilitates choice of appropriate prosthetic material, allowing to make prosthetic restoration that is functional and aesthetic at the same time taking into account prosthetic stomatopathy prevention.

Description of prosthetic treatment in case of neurofibromatosis in the course of Recklinghausen disease. Case course.

Neurofibromatosis is a hereditary autosomal predominating disease occuring in one out of every 2000 or 3300 alive births. The classical form of neurofibromatosis was described by von Recklinghausen in 1882. The disease is a gene mutation, where the anomalies affect mesoderm and neuroectoderm. The paper presents the therapeutic treatment method for the case of lacking teeth restoration in a patient diagnosed with known form ofneurofibromatosis NF-1 in Recklinghausen disease.

Pensioners' quality of life in social care houses.

BACKGROUND: Elderly people need special and complex dental care. They have the right to a dignified life and for the dental care. In elderly the need for social and family support grows. However, many seniors live their last stages of life in the Social Care Houses. Governmental institutions fail to provide full support to seniors since almost the entire psychosocial domain is neglected. Social Care Houses, despite having the word "home" in its name, are only institutions providing the patients with nursing care. The aim of the work was to study the quality of life and psychosocial status in residents of Social Care Houses. MATERIAL: The study enrolled 135 individuals aged from 66 to 87 years. RESULTS: It was found that the quality of life in residents of Social Care Houses was low and their psychosocial status was poor. Majority of the studied individuals did not like their life so far. They were overwhelmed by the feeling of tiredness, loneliness and fear about tomorrow. Despite feeling lonely the residents of Social Care Houses showed strong tendency towards isolation. Low psychical and physical activity influenced negatively the psychosocial status of the seniors. It seems that psychotherapists should be the staff members in the Social Care Houses. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The quality of pensioners' life in Social Care Houses does not offer happy existence to them. 2. The pensioners' psychosocial state is poor in Social Care Houses. 3. It seems that Social Care Houses should employ psychotherapists.

[Dental status in patients with eating disorders]. / Stan zebów u pacjentek z zaburzeniami odzywiania sie.

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are serious eating disorders on the mental background that affect a significant number of young people. They lead to many complications including the ones within the oral cavity. The most frequent effects concerning tooth hard tissue are dental erosions. Erosions are characterized by the irreversible process of demineralization of the external layers of tissues of the tooth. This paper reviews literature to assess the oral status and dental complications in patients with eating disorders.

[Prosthetic treatment needs among the elder in Germany]. / Potrzeby leczniczo-protetyczne u seniorów w Niemczech.

INTRODUCTION: The life expectancy has significantly increased in the last 100 years. Therefore it has to be taken into account that many patients who come to the dentist are over 60. In this group of patients, you should pay attention to geriatric aspects of medical history and treatment plan. Nowadays as well as in the past, teeth loss correlates with the age especially thus with the branch of dentistry which is prosthetics. The aim of this study was to define: 1) the condition of the masticatory system of people over 60 who live with their families or at the nursing home; 2) the assessment of prosthetics needs of these groups; 3) differences (if occure) in these examined groups; 4) coexistence of general diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted on the group of 100 elder people in the range of age between 61-95. First group constituted 50 patients from nursing home in Hannover next 50 patients were treated in private dental practice in Lohne. The study included medical history and the dental examination. The dental examination focused on the inspection of the face symmetry, condition of TMJ, teeth, mucosa and the type of dental appliences as well as the level of oral hygiene. RESULTS: The proper condition of masticatory system was classified in 58% of patients from nursing home and 62% of patients from private practice. Only in 60% of patients from both of group the proper shape of the temporo-mandibular joint was determinated. Patients who suffered from general diseases constituted 72% of those living in nursing home and 66% those from private practice. Among these patients, the circulatory system problems were the most frequent and the diabetes occure almost equally often. 42% of patients from nursing home determinated need to weave dentures or other dental appliences in comparison to 32% from private practice. CONCLUSIONS: The condition of the masticatory system was inefficient in both groups but the dental needs of patients from nursing home were significantly higher.

Influence of tamoxifen on the mandible bone and hard teeth tissues of animals.

Tamoxifen, protactedly used, can cause disadvantageous changes in the bones and in the hard teeth tissues. The aim of this paper was to define to what extent tamoxifen given to the animals influences the structure of the mandible bone and the hard teeth tissues.