On the role of the frontal projection in videoradiography of velopharynx in decision-making for a velopharyngeal flap plasty in patients with cleft palate.

Despite uneventful primary surgery, patients with cleft palate may experience velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) and hypernasal speech. Videoradiography of velopharynx is a commonly used method to visualize velopharyngeal function and a velopharyngeal flap is often used to counteract VPI. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the frontal projection on videoradiography plays a role in the decision-making about velopharyngeal flap surgery, or possibly the width and orientation of the flap. A secondary aim was to evaluate the effect of the flap in improving velopharyngeal function. Between 2007 and 2016, 75 patients had received a flap at our department. During the same period of time, 41 patients who had undergone videoradiography did not receive a flap. Medical records, particularly regarding speech assessments, videoradiography statements and operating records, were scrutinised to seek information about the factors leading up to the decision about whether or not to perform a flap. In only one instance, reduced lateral pharyngeal wall movement found on the frontal projection was clearly taken into account when deciding to refrain from performing a velopharyngeal flap. Only a slight agreement was found between pre-operative speech assessment and findings in videoradiography. Hypernasality was reduced by flap surgery in 97% of the patients. We conclude the frontal projection of the videoradiographic examination seems to have no crucial role in the decision-making on performing a velopharyngeal flap or not in patients with cleft palate. Even with reduced lateral pharyngeal wall movement, a velopharyngeal flap effectively reduces hypernasality and VPI.

Signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders in adults after adolescent Herbst therapy: a 6-year and 32-year radiographic and clinical follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze radiographic signs of temperomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis and clinical TMJ symptoms in patients 6 years and 32 years after treatment with a Herbst appliance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients were derived from a sample of 22 with Class II division 1 malocclusions consecutively treated with a banded Herbst appliance at the age of 12-14 years old (T1-T2). The subjects were reexamined after therapy at the ages of 20 years (T3) and 46 years (T4). The TMJs of the 14 patients were analyzed radiographically (conventional lateral tomography at T3 and cone-beam computed tomography at T4) and clinically/anamnestically at T3 and T4. RESULTS: Six years after Herbst therapy, signs of osteoarthritis were seen in one patient. At the 32-year follow-up, two additional patients had developed signs of osteoarthritis. At the 6-year follow-up, TMJ clicking was present in two patients, though none of the patients reported TMJ pain. At the 32-year follow-up, six patients had TMJ clicking and one patient had TMJ pain. CONCLUSIONS: This longitudinal very-long-term follow-up study after Herbst therapy revealed only minor problems from the TMJ. The TMJ findings 6 years and 32 years after Herbst treatment corresponded to those in the general population. Thus, in the very long term, the Herbst appliance does not appear to be harmful to the TMJ.

A 15-year follow-up of temporomandibular joint symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging findings in whiplash patients: a prospective, controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the incidence, prevalence, and progression of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings and symptoms in patients over a 15-year period after whiplash trauma, compared with control participants. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty consecutive patients were enrolled directly after whiplash trauma. The study protocol included TMJ MR imaging at inception and 15 years later, as well as a questionnaire and interview at inception, at 1-year follow-up, and at 15-year follow-up. Fifty-seven patients (95%) participated in all three examinations (85% for MR imaging). Fifty matched control participants were examined. RESULTS: The prevalence of TMJ symptoms was significantly higher in patients compared with control participants at inception (44% vs 20%, P = .0055) and remained significantly higher throughout the study period. The prevalence of disk displacement did not differ significantly between groups either at inception (63% vs 53%) or at 15-year follow-up (63% vs 55%). CONCLUSIONS: This prospective 15-year follow-up suggests that the development of TMJ symptoms, both immediate and delayed, is common in whiplash patients.

Temporomandibular joints in asymptomatic and symptomatic nonpatient volunteers: a prospective 15-year follow-up clinical and MR imaging study.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence, prevalence, and progression of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings and symptoms during 15 years in adult asymptomatic and symptomatic volunteers (nonpatients). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A regional committee for medical research ethics approved the study, and informed volunteer consent was obtained. Fifty-three volunteers were examined at study inception. For clinical assessment, a self-administered questionnaire was given, followed by an interview with each volunteer at study inception, at 1 year later, and at 15 years later. Bilateral TMJ MR imaging and clinical examination were performed at inception and at 15-year follow-up. The MR images were assessed for disk position, bone status, and joint fluid. All 53 volunteers participated at 1-year follow-up, and 50 of 53 volunteers participated at 15-year follow-up; of these 50 volunteers, 47 underwent MR imaging. The Fisher exact test was used to determine differences between groups, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to determine differences in prevalence of TMJ symptoms among the three examination times. RESULTS: At study inception, TMJ disk displacement was observed in 31% of asymptomatic volunteers (nine of 29) compared with 89% of symptomatic volunteers (16 of 18, P < .001). Inceptive TMJ status was maintained after 15 years in 91% (43 of 47). Unilateral progression was observed in four volunteers (9%); one was symptomatic and three were asymptomatic. Progression involved development of new disk displacement (n = 1), development of new bone changes (n = 2), and aggravation from reducing to nonreducing disk displacement (n = 1). Prevalence of TMJ symptoms did not change significantly between examination times (P = .77). TMJ clicking was the most common clinical symptom. CONCLUSION: Volunteers with mild symptoms had a prevalence of disk displacement of the same magnitude as that reported in patients, although most volunteers, symptomatic as well as asymptomatic, maintained their TMJ status during 15 years.

"I'll never forget this": evaluating a pilot workshop in effective communication for dental students.

This study evaluated a pilot workshop for teaching communication skills to dental students. The methodology is based on an experiential learning approach, the use of realistic clinical scenarios, simulated patients, and an integrated teaching team of both educational researchers and dentists. Furthermore, the methodology was adapted for short workshops, which is thought to offer better possibilities for frequent and effective training of communication skills throughout the curriculum. The work-shop was piloted with groups of six to ten students from the sixth and tenth semesters (n=94). Results show that the majority of students found the tasks meaningful and well aligned with how they perceived their future profession as dentists. Most students also thought that they learned from the task. An interesting finding is that students not only found it instructive to practice how to communicate in authentic situations, but that they generally found the workshop to be thought-provoking while at the same time providing structure and intellectual tools for the future. A possible explanation for this finding is the sharing of explicit criteria for high-quality communication.

Accuracy of patients' recall of temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction after experiencing whiplash trauma: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Researchers have conducted studies regarding whiplash-induced temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain and dysfunction mainly under the presumption that patients' memory of symptoms remains accurate across time. In this prospective study, the authors aimed to determine the frequency of patients' inaccurate retrospective reports of TMJ pain and dysfunction after whiplash trauma. METHODS: The authors assessed TMJ pain and dysfunction in 60 patients consecutively seen in a hospital emergency department directly after the patients experienced whiplash trauma in rear-end automobile accidents. They followed up with 59 patients one year later. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire followed by a comprehensive interview during both examinations. The study group consisted of the 40 patients who reported previous or current TMJ pain, dysfunction or both at either examination or at both examinations. RESULTS: The agreement between each patient's inceptive and retrospective reports of TMJ pain and dysfunction yielded a kappa value of 0.41 (95 percent confidence interval [CI] 0.18-0.64). Sixteen patients (40 percent, 95 percent CI 25-57 percent) had inaccurate recall. Recollection errors were addition, omission, and forward and backward telescoping. Seven patients incorrectly referred symptom onset to the accident. CONCLUSIONS: The high frequency of inaccurate recall of TMJ pain and dysfunction one year after whiplash trauma implies that clinicians and researchers should interpret with caution the results of previous studies that relied on retrospective data regarding whiplash-induced TMJ pain and dysfunction. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: To achieve valid long-term evaluations in clinical research, the patient's TMJ status should be established at the time of an accident.

Delayed temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction induced by whiplash trauma: a controlled prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The Quebec Task Force on Whiplash-Associated Disorders urged for controlled, prognostic studies of symptoms after whiplash trauma. The authors conducted a study that met the design requirements to enhance knowledge about short-term and long-term temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, dysfunction or both induced by whiplash trauma. METHODS: The authors studied 60 consecutive patients who had neck symptoms after whiplash trauma and were seen at a hospital emergency department. They followed up 59 subjects one full year later. At the inceptive examination and at follow-up, each subject completed a self-administered questionnaire, followed by a comprehensive interview. Fifty-three frequency-matched control subjects followed the same protocol concurrently. RESULTS: The incidence of new symptoms of TMJ pain, dysfunction or both between the inceptive examination and follow-up was five times higher in subjects (34 percent) than in control subjects (7 percent). The frequency of TMJ pain increased significantly in female subjects, as did the frequency of TMJ symptoms that were reported to be the main complaint. At the follow-up, 20 percent of all subjects reported that TMJ symptoms were their main complaint. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that one in three people who are exposed to whiplash trauma is at risk of developing delayed TMJ symptoms that may require clinical management. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Awareness of a significant risk for delayed onset of TMJ symptoms after whiplash trauma is crucial for making adequate diagnoses, prognoses and medicolegal decisions.