Myofunctional therapy Part 2: Prevention of dentofacial disorders.

AirwayCentric approach to prevention of dentofacial disorders. The correct development of functions is important for the prevention of dentofacial disorders from the first days of life. The first and foremost function, to which all others are adapting, is nasal breathing. The AirwayCentric® method focuses on nasal breathing during early development and throughout childhood to promote: Neurobehavioural development and the brain, development of the craniofacial and respiratory complex, correct dental occlusion, proper and restful sleep and to improve performance and life overall. By working at the same time on orofacial functions and structures, many dentofacial disorders can be prevented.

Myofunctional therapy. Part 1: Culture, industrialisation and the shrinking human face.

Culture, industrialisation and the shrinking human face: Why is it important? Over the past 300,000 years, not only has the way we consume food from birth through our lifetime changed, there have also been changes related to the methods of food preparation, availability, processing, and storage. These diet-related factors, along with other epigenetic factors, have led to a widespread increase in orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs) and resultant human malocclusion phenotypes (HMPs) worldwide. Currently there is an increasing need for resolution of HMPs in early childhood and associated OMDs. This review will include reports of cases and describe the nature of the problem and strategies for effective solutions.

Efficacy of two mouthwashes on 3-day supragingival plaque regrowth: a randomized crossover clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiplaque effects of an alcohol-free essential oil (alcohol-free EO) mouthwash and an amine fluoride/stannous fluoride with zinc lactate (SnFl-Zn) mouthwash compared to a positive control of chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash, using an in vivo plaque regrowth model of 3 days. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as a double-masked, randomized, crossover clinical trial, involving 20 volunteers to compare two different mouthwashes, using a 3-day plaque accumulation model. After receiving thorough professional prophylaxis at baseline, over the next 3 days, each volunteer refrained from all oral hygiene measures and performed two daily rinses with 20 ml of the test mouthwashes. A 0.20% CHX rinse served as a positive control. At the end of each experimental period, plaque was assessed, and the panellists completed a questionnaire. Each subject underwent a 14-day washout period, and then, there was another allocation. RESULTS: The SnFl-Zn mouthwash has shown a better inhibitory activity on plaque regrowth compared to the alcohol-free EO mouthwash in the whole mouth (plaque index = 1.93 against 2.45, respectively), but there was less of an effect compared to the CHX group, with an overall plaque index of 1.41. The differences of 0.52 between alcohol-free EO and SnFl-Zn and between SnFl-Zn and CHX and of 0.96 between alcohol-free EO and CHX were all statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The alcohol-free EO mouthwash seemed to have less of an inhibiting effect on plaque regrowth than the amine fluoride/SnFl-Zn mouthwash and the CHX control.

Neuromuscular diagnosis in orthodontics: effects of TENS on the sagittal maxillo-mandibular relationship.

AIM: This study was conducted in order to assess the changes in the occlusal position of the mandible after ULF (Ultra Low Frequency)-TENS relaxing procedure in subjects in pubertal growth phase with diagnosed Angle Class II division 1 and mandibular dentoalveolar retrusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed on 19 patients (13 females, 6 males) with an Angle Class II division 1, aged between 10 and 15 years old (mean age 12.26, SD 1.32), characterised by mandible dentoalveolar retrusion and optimal vertical facial dimension, diagnosed by clinical and cephalometric evaluation. Diagnostic neuromuscular registrations were made for all subjects. The casts were mounted on articulator in habitual intercuspal position with a tooth-guided wax bite registration. Reference points were chosen at molar level. Subsequently the same casts were mounted in myocentric position and compared to the habitual intercuspal position, assessing the sagittal shift after TENS procedure. STATISTICS: Mean and standard deviation were calculated on the amount of shifting at the left molar reference point after TENS procedure. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), using STATA statistics package, was carried out in order to evaluate the influence of sex and age on the amount of molar shift. RESULTS: Nine subjects showed, in the sagittal plane, a forward mandibular shift in neuromuscular myocentric position compared to habitual intercuspal position. Six subjects showed no differences between habitual and myocentric position in the sagittal plane. Four individuals showed a backward mandible shift after TENS indicating worsening of the II molar class in the sagittal plane. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that TENS recorded occlusion in subjects with Class II division 1 with mandible dentoalveolar retrusion allows to visualise an unusual trend of growth. The advancements of the mandible were not taken into account. These results could offer new diagnosis and prognosis methods for Class II malocclusions.

Neuromuscular diagnosis in orthodontics: effects of TENS on maxillo-mandibular relationship.

AIM: This study was conducted in order to assess the changes in the occlusal position of the mandible after Ultra Low Frequency (ULF)-TENS relaxing procedure in children with diagnosed functional mandibular lateral deviation. METHODS: This study was performed on 20 children, aged between 8 and 12 years, with a mean age of 10 years (SD 0.79) with functional mandibular lateral deviation, diagnosed by clinical and cephalometric evaluation, referred to the Dental Clinic for paediatric dental care. Diagnostic neuromuscular registrations were made for all children, and their casts mounted on articulator Galetti at the myocentric position and compared to casts provided of a wax bite registration in intercuspal position. RESULTS: The alignment of the midline after TENS was not punctual (p >0.05). Compared with the existing intercuspal position, neuromuscular registration showed improvement in 10 (50%) patients, 6 patients (30%) showed no changes, while worsening of the tooth-midline discrepancy was assessed in the remaining 4 (20%). The molar relationship did not follow the same trend of the midline because of the three-dimensional changes in the maxillo-mandibular relationship induced by TENS. After TENS there was a significant correlation between midline and right side deviation (r >0.65), there was no correlation between midline and the left side (r <0.65). Furthermore, right molar movement showed no correlation with the contralateral molar (r <0.65). The posterior areas of the arch were moving in a very unpredictable way, resulting in the diagnosis and prognosis of mandibular lateral deviation as absolutely individual and unpredictable. Conclusion This study suggests that TENS recorded occlusion is an interesting diagnostic approach in orthodontics since it allows visualising the trends of the neuromuscular system.