Tooth loss and obstructive sleep apnea signs and symptoms in the US population

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between tooth loss and signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a representative sample of the general US population

Relationship Between Patients’ Perceptions of Postsurgical Sequelae and Altered Sensations After Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy

Following orthognathic surgery, patients use qualitatively different words to describe altered sensation on their face. These words indicate normal, hypoesthetic, paresthetic, or dysesthetic sensations and so reflect the intrusiveness of the altered sensation. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the intrusiveness of the altered sensation and the extent to which it and the associated impairment in facial function were perceived to be a problem in the lives of the patients

Functional Outcomes of Cleft Lip Surgery. Part IV: Between- and Within-Participant Variables Affecting Lip Vermilion Sensory Thresholds

Compare neurosensory assessments for participants with and without a cleft lip; identify between- and within-participant variables affecting sensory thresholds on the vermilion of participants with cleft lip

Sleep Medicine Care Under One Roof: A Proposed Model for Integrating Dentistry and Medicine

Integrating oral appliance therapy into the delivery of care for sleeprelated breathing disorders has been a challenge for dental and medical professionals alike. We review the difficulties that have been faced and propose a multidisciplinary care delivery model that integrates dental sleep medicine and sleep medicine under the same roof with educational and research components. The model promises to offer distinct advantages to improved patient care, continuity of treatment, and the central coordination of clinical and insurance-related benefits

Effects of Lip Revision Surgery on Long-Term Orosensory Function in Patients with Cleft Lip/Palate

To determine whether secondary lip revision surgery impacts sensitivity of the upper lip

Qualitative Descriptors Used by Patients Following Orthognathic Surgery to Portray Altered Sensation

Following orthognathic surgery, patients use qualitatively different words to describe the altered sensation on their face that results from tissue inflammation and nerve injury. These words indicate normal, hypoesthetic, paresthetic, and dysesthetic sensations, and reflect the intrusiveness of the alteration. Our intent was to study the words chosen by patients from a standardized list to characterize sensory recovery during the first 6 months after surgery and to examine whether patients who underwent different surgical procedures tended to choose different sets of words

Reliability and Reproducibility of Novel Methodology for Assessment of Pressure Pain Sensitivity in Pelvis

Vestibulodynia, the most common type of chronic vulvovaginal pain, impairs the psychological, physical health of nearly 10% of women at some point in their lifetime. The aim of this investigation was to establish reliable standardized methodologies for assessment of pain sensitivity in vulvar mucosa and pelvic musculature. We enrolled 34 women with vestibulodynia and 21 pain-free controls. The participants underwent a nuanced exam that consisted of palpation of precisely located vulvar mucosal and pelvic muscle sites. These measurements remained highly stable when participants were reexamined after two weeks, with high within-examiner correlation. Vestibulodynia patients reported greater sensitivity than pain-free controls at the majority of examination sites, particularly at mucosal sites on the lower vestibule. The pain threshold measures at the lower mucosal sites were also associated with the participants’ self-reported pain levels during intercourse. These mucosal pain threshold measurements were used to discriminate between vestibulodynia cases and controls with high sensitivity and specificity. This data supports the feasibility of contemporaneous assessment of vulvar mucosa and underlying musculature in the pelvic region, offering the hope of a more precise case definition for vestibulodynia and related disorders

Functional Outcomes of Cleft Lip Surgery. Part I: Study Design and Surgeon Ratings of Lip Disability and Need for Lip Revision

Objective—Children with a cleft of the upper lip exhibit obvious facial disfigurement. Many require multiple lip surgeries for an optimal esthetic result. However, because the decision for lip revision is based on subjective clinical criteria, clinicians may disagree on whether these surgeries should be performed. To establish more reliable, functionally relevant outcome criteria for evaluation and treatment planning, a clinical trial currently is in progress. In this article, the design of the clinical trial is described and results of a study on subjective evaluations of facial form by surgeons for or against the need for lip revision surgery are presented. Design—Parallel, three-group, nonrandomized clinical trial and subjective evaluations/ratings of facial views by surgeons. Subjects—For the clinical trial, children with repaired cleft lip and palate scheduled for a secondary lip revision, children with repaired cleft lip and palate who did not have lip revision, and noncleft children. For the subjective evaluations, surgeons’ facial ratings of 21 children with repaired cleft lip. Analysis—Descriptive and Kappa statistics assessing the concordance of surgeons’ ratings of (a) repeated facial views and (b) a recommendation of revision on viewing the prerevision and postrevision views. Results—The surgeons’ consistency in rating repeated views was moderate to excellent; however, agreement among the surgeons when rating individual participants was low to moderate. Conclusions—The findings suggest that the agreement among surgeons was poor and support the need for more objective measures to assess the need for revision surgery

Functional Outcomes of Cleft Lip Surgery. Part I: Study Design and Surgeon Ratings of Lip Disability and Need for Lip Revision

Objective—Children with a cleft of the upper lip exhibit obvious facial disfigurement. Many require multiple lip surgeries for an optimal esthetic result. However, because the decision for lip revision is based on subjective clinical criteria, clinicians may disagree on whether these surgeries should be performed. To establish more reliable, functionally relevant outcome criteria for evaluation and treatment planning, a clinical trial currently is in progress. In this article, the design of the clinical trial is described and results of a study on subjective evaluations of facial form by surgeons for or against the need for lip revision surgery are presented. Design—Parallel, three-group, nonrandomized clinical trial and subjective evaluations/ratings of facial views by surgeons. Subjects—For the clinical trial, children with repaired cleft lip and palate scheduled for a secondary lip revision, children with repaired cleft lip and palate who did not have lip revision, and noncleft children. For the subjective evaluations, surgeons’ facial ratings of 21 children with repaired cleft lip. Analysis—Descriptive and Kappa statistics assessing the concordance of surgeons’ ratings of (a) repeated facial views and (b) a recommendation of revision on viewing the prerevision and postrevision views. Results—The surgeons’ consistency in rating repeated views was moderate to excellent; however, agreement among the surgeons when rating individual participants was low to moderate. Conclusions—The findings suggest that the agreement among surgeons was poor and support the need for more objective measures to assess the need for revision surgery

Sensory Retraining After Orthognathic Surgery: Effect on Patients’ Perception of Altered Sensation

The primary research hypothesis was that the magnitude and duration of the perceived burden from altered sensation reported by patients following bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) and trauma to the third division of the trigeminal nerve is lessened when facial sensory retraining exercises are performed in conjunction with standard opening exercises as compared to standard opening exercises alone