Three-dimensional motion analysis of facial movement during verbal and nonverbal expressions in healthy subjects.

Functional impairments of facial expressions alter the quality of life and their quantitative analysis is key to describing and grading facial function and dysfunction. The aim of this investigation was to quantify 3D lip movements in a group of healthy young subjects. Lip movements during five repetitions of common and random sequences of vowels and nonverbal expressions were recorded using an optoelectronic 3D motion analyzer. The mean maximum displacement of facial landmarks was used to compute 3D unilateral mobility and the symmetry indices (SI) separately for each sex. Facial mobility was significantly greater during open-mouth than closed-mouth smiles. Facial movement among the subjects was largest during articulation of the vowel /a/ and smallest for /i/. Lips were pursed with a SI very close to 95%, while smiles were slightly more asymmetric. The vowel /a/ was articulated with significantly greater symmetry than /e/, /i/ and /u/. The outcomes suggest that the proposed method characterized normal facial animations satisfactorily, so it could be a useful tool for assessing patients with facial lesions and dentofacial deformities. Patient assessment would profit from this quantitative approach, which would reduce discrepancies among several clinical examinations. Clin. Anat. 29:991-997, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Validity and reliability of a protocol of orofacial myofunctional evaluation for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

There is no standardized protocol for the clinical evaluation of orofacial components and functions in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The aim of this study was to examine the validity, reliability, and psychometric properties of the Expanded Protocol of Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores (OMES-expanded) in subjects with obstructive sleep apnea. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea and control subjects were evaluated, and the validity of OMES-expanded was tested by construct validity (i.e. the ability to discriminate orofacial status between apneic and control subjects) and criterion validity (i.e. correlation between OMES-expanded and a reference instrument). Construct validity was adequate; the apneic group showed significantly worse orofacial status than did control subjects. Criterion validity of OMES-expanded was good, as was its reliability. The OMES-expanded is valid and reliable for evaluating orofacial myofunctional disorders of patients with obstructive sleep apnea, with adequate psychometric properties. It may be useful to plan a therapeutic strategy and to determine whether the effects of therapy are related to improved muscle and orofacial functions.

Bruxism in children with nasal obstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Bruxism is characterized by repeated tooth grinding or clenching. The condition can occur in all age ranges and in both genders, being related or not to other oral habits. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of bruxism in children with nasal obstruction and to determine its association with other factors. METHODS: Sixty children with nasal obstruction seen at the Otorhinolaryngology Outpatient Clinic of the University Hospital of Ribeirão Preto participated in the study. The data were obtained using a pre-established questionnaire applied to the person responsible and by orofacial evaluation of the patient. The participants were divided into two groups: group with bruxism (GB) as reported by the relatives and with the presence of tooth wear detected by clinical evaluation, and group without bruxism (GWB), consisting of children with none of the two symptoms of bruxism mentioned above. RESULTS: The presence of bruxism exceeded its absence in the sample studied (65.22%). There was no significant difference (P<0.05) between groups regarding gender, phase of dentition, presence of hearing diseases, degree of malocclusion, or child behavior. CONCLUSION: Bruxism and deleterious oral habits such as biting behavior (objects, lips and nails) were significantly present, together with the absence of suction habits, in the children with nasal obstruction.