Mallampati score in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders: A pilot case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is defined as any functional abnormalities in different parts of the face and neck. The Mallampati index is an indicator for determining the extent of airway blockage. No study has examined the relationship between TMD and Mallampati score. Most studies have investigated the relationship between temporomandibular joint problems and sleep problems. This pilot study aimed to assess the Mallampati index scores among TMD patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty-four people were divided into the case (based on RDC/TMD) and control groups. Demographic information, neck circumference, tongue size, Mallampati score, and other variables were asked of people. STOP-BANG and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were also completed for each patient. Data were analyzed with Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: The Mallampati and PSQI questionnaire scores in the case group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.001). The results showed that larger tongue and neck circumference patients had a higher Mallampati score. Pearson correlation coefficient showed that the Mallampati score had a direct and significant relationship with body mass index and PSQI (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that Mallampati scores were significantly higher among patients with TMD than among healthy individuals.

Effect of Ozonated Water on the Color Stability of Denture Teeth and Heat Polymerized Acrylic Base Resin

Abstract Objective: To determine the effect of ozonated water on the color stability of denture tooth and denture bases. Material and Methods: Thirty denture base discs consisting of 15 Acropars and 15 ProBase Hot specimens with the dimensions of 40 × 5 mm were prepared. Fifteen denture teeth in shade A1 (Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) were mounted in a specific acrylic jig. All specimens were immersed in three solutions (1% sodium hypochlorite, ozonated water, and distilled water) for four months (one year of clinical use). Color measurements were done with a spectrophotometer and assessed using the CIE L*a*b* colorimetric system (0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks). Data were analyzed using the three-way ANOVA and Tukey test (α=0.05). Results: Tukey's post hoc test revealed a significant change in color in the Acropars denture base for the distilled water group compared to the ozonated water and 1% hypochlorite (p<0.05). Regarding the ProBase Hot denture base, significantly less color change was observed in the 1% hypochlorite group compared to the ozonated water and distilled water (p≤0.001). For the denture teeth, significantly less color change was seen in the distilled water group than in the ozonated water (p=0.015) and 1% hypochlorite (p<0.05) groups. Conclusion: The color change of denture bases and denture tooth in ozonated water are acceptable. Ozonated water can be considered a good disinfectant for cleaning dentures.

Effect of Ozone and Two Common Denture Cleaners on Tensile Bond Strength and Surface Hardness of a Silicone Soft Liner.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of ozone and two common denture cleansers on the surface hardness and bond strength of a silicone-based soft liner to acrylic denture base material. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty cylindrical specimens were fabricated using heat-cured poly-methyl methacrylate denture base resin. Three millimeters of the material was ground from the midsection and filled with the soft liner. The resilient liner specimens (n=40) used for the hardness test were 10 mm in diameter and 5 mm in height. Cylindrical and disc-shaped samples were randomly divided into four groups (37°C distilled water, Corega® tablets, 0.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), and a home ozone generator). To simulate six months of denture cleansing clinically, samples were placed in their cleanser once a day for six months according to the manufacturer's instructions. All cylindrical specimens were placed under tension until failure in a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 5 mm/minute. For disc-shaped samples, hardness was measured using a Shore-A durometer. The results were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey's post hoc test. RESULTS: The mean tensile bond strength was not significantly different among the studied groups (P>0.05). The mean hardness in the ozone and Corega tablet groups was significantly lower than that of the control and NaOCl groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The type of denture cleanser does not affect the tensile bond strength of silicone soft liners. Home ozone generators and cleansing tablets have less effect on the hardness of soft denture liners compared to 0.5% NaOCl.

Kinetics of antifungal activity of home-generated ozonated water on Candida albicans.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Candida-associated denture stomatitis is one of the most common forms of oral candidiasis among denture wearers. Regarding this, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the antifungal effects of home-generated ozonated water on the adhesion of the C. albicans attached to the surface of the denture base acrylic resins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the purpose of the study, different concentrations of C. albicans were added to the tubes containing acrylic resin blocks, and then incubated for 2 h at 35°C. The samples were assigned into three groups, each of which contained 42 samples, including normal saline (NS) solution as the negative control, nystatin (N) solution as the positive control, and ozonated water as the test group. The samples were washed and placed in an ultrasonic bath. Subsequently, the saline solution was cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar. The concentrations of Candida were evaluated during the contact times. RESULTS: The test group (i.e., ozonated water) with 114 colony-forming units (CFU) showed a significant reduction of Candida colonies, compared to the NS group with 2,172 CFU. The 120- and 1-minute incubation with ozonated water showed the highest and lowest effects on the viability of Candida adhered to the acrylic resin, respectively. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, home-generated ozonated water can be applied to remove the Candida attached to the surface of the denture plates.

Maximum dislodging forces of mandibular implant-assisted removable partial dentures: in vitro assessment.

PURPOSE: The initial retention of implant-assisted removable partial dentures (IARPDs) is unknown. The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare maximum dislodging forces of distal extension mandibular IARPD with two different attachments and three clasp designs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A simulated class I partially edentulous mandible was prepared with two screw-type 3.75 × 12 mm implants in the first molar regions and 2 metal-ceramic crowns on distal abutments. Fifteen bilateral distal extension frameworks were conventionally fabricated in three clasp designs (suprabulge, infrabulge, no clasp). Locator attachments were connected to the 15 denture bases with autopolymerized resin. Each specimen was subject to four types of retention pulls (main, anterior, posterior, unilateral pull) five times with a universal testing machine. Locator attachments were replaced with O-ring attachments, and the same procedure was performed. Therefore, the study groups included: IRPD with Locator attachment and suprabulge clasp (group 1), IRPD with Locator attachment and infrabulge clasp (group 2), IRPD with Locator attachment and no clasp (group 3), IRPD with O-ring attachment and suprabulge clasp (group 4), IRPD with O-ring attachment and infrabulge clasp (group 5), IRPD with O-ring attachment and no clasp (group 6). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, and Tukey tests. RESULTS: The highest mean value was 22.99 lb for prostheses with a Locator attachment and suprabulge clasp. The lowest retentive values were recorded for IARPDs with O-ring attachments. CONCLUSION: The results of this in vitro study suggest that the precise selection of attachments with or without clasp assemblies may affect the clinical success of mandibular IARPDs.

Comparison of three treatment options for painful temporomandibular joint clicking.

A randomized clinical trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy of three treatment options, including anterior positioning splint therapy, physical therapy, and physical therapy in addition to splint therapy, in terms of treatment outcome, in patients with painful temporomandibular joint clicking. Sixty patients suffering from acute pain and dysfunction were divided randomly into three treatment groups. Twenty patients underwent anterior positioning splint therapy (group I), 20 patients received solely physical therapy (group II), and 20 subjects received physical treatment in addition to splinting (group III). All patients were examined before and after the treatment using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and digital palpation of joint sounds. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis, one-way ANOVA and Tukey tests at a significance level of P < 0.05. In comparison with the baseline, subjective pain was decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in all three groups. A significant difference was observed between groups I and II (P <0.05), whereas no significant difference was detected between groups II and III. Six patients in group III did not continue the treatment after physical therapy. The numbers of pain-free patients were 12 in group I, 5 in group II and 9 in group III. We observed a reduction in the frequency of joint sounds across the entire sample (P < 0.05). Anterior positioning splint therapy appears to be the best treatment method for reduction of pain and joint sounds in patients with TMD, compared with the other two methods studied.