Predicting Interest in Orthodontic Aligners: A Google Trends Data Analysis

Aligners are an example of how advances in dentistry can develop from innovative combinations of 3D technologies in imaging, planning and printing to provide new treatment modalities. With increasing demand for esthetic orthodontic treatment, aligners have grown in popularity because they are esthetically more pleasing and less obstructive to oral hygiene and other oral functions compared to fixed orthodontic appliances. To observe and estimate aligner treatment interest among Google Search users, Google Trends data were obtained and analyzed for the search term, “Invisalign”. A prediction of interest for the year 2022 for three European Union countries with the highest GDP was developed. “Invisalign” was chosen to represent all orthodontic aligners as the most searched term in Google Trends for aligners. This is the first study to predict interest in the query “Invisalign” in a Google search engine. The Prophet algorithm, which depends on advanced statistical analysis methods, positions itself as an automatic prediction procedure and was used to predict Google Trends data. Seasonality modeling was based on the standard Fourier series to provide a flexible model of periodic effects. The results predict an increase in “Invisalign” in Google Trends queries in the coming year, increasing by around 6%, 9% and 13% by the end of 2022 compared to 2021 for France, Italy and Germany, respectively. Forecasting allows practitioners to plan for growing demand for particular treatments, consider taking continuing education, specifically, aligner certification courses, or introduce modern scanning technology into offices. The oral health community can use similar prediction tools and methods to remain alert to future changes in patient demand to improve the responses of professional organizations as a whole, work more effectively with governments if needed, and provide better coordination of care for patients

The Electrical Activity of the Orbicularis Oris Muscle in Children with Down Syndrome—A Preliminary Study

The aim of this study was to assess the electrical activity of the superior (SOO) and inferior (IOO) orbicularis oris muscles in children with Down syndrome (DS) and in children without DS. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 subjects were eligible to participate in the later stages of the research—15 subjects with DS (mean age 10.1 1.1) and 15 healthy controls (mean age 9.8 1.0). The electrical potentials of the SOO and IOO muscles were recorded using a DAB-Bluetooth electromyography machine (Zebris Medical GmbH, Germany) during the following tasks: At clinical rest, saliva swallowing, lip protrusion, lip compression, and production of the syllable/pa/. The Mann–Whitney U test was conducted to compare the study results between the groups. An analysis of the electromyographical (EMG) recordings showed that the electrical activity of the orbicularis oris muscle in children with DS and lip incompetence was significantly higher compared to healthy children during saliva swallowing, lip compression, and when producing the syllable/pa/, and this may suggest greater muscular effort due to the need to seal the lips during these functional conditions

Surface electromyography in the assessment of masticatory muscle activity in patients with pain-related temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review

BackgroundTemporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a set of painful conditions affecting the orofacial region that are prevalent and constitute the most frequent type of non-dental pain complaint in the maxillofacial area. Pain-related TMD (TMD-P) is characterized by ongoing pain in the masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joint, or surrounding structures. Due to the multiple factors that contribute to the development of this condition, it can be challenging to accurately diagnose. One of the useful method for assessing patients with TMD-P is surface electromyography (sEMG). The aim of this systematic review was to provide a comprehensive overview of the current scientific literature on the evaluation of masticatory muscle activity (MMA) in individuals diagnosed with TMD-P, through the utilization of sEMG.MethodsTo gather relevant information, electronic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase were searched using specific keywords including: “pain” AND (“temporomandibular disorder*” OR “temporomandibular dysfunction*”) AND “surface electromyography” AND “masticatory muscle activity.” The inclusion criteria were studies assessing MMA in patients with TMD-P using sEMG. The Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies was utilized to evaluate the quality of the studies that were included in the review.ResultsThe search strategy identified 450 potential articles. Fourteen papers met the inclusion criteria. Global quality rating for significant part of the articles was weak. Most studies showed greater sEMG activity of the masseter (MM) and temporal anterior (TA) muscles at rest in TMD-P subjects than in the asymptomatic controls, while the MM and TA muscles were less active in the pain-related TMD group compared to the non-TMD group during maximal voluntary clenching (MVC).ConclusionThere were differences in MMA in the TMD-pain population compared to a healthy control group during various tasks. The diagnostic efficacy of surface electromyography in assessing individuals with TMD-P remains unclear

Accuracy of Surface Electromyography in the Diagnosis of Pain-Related Temporomandibular Disorders in Children with Awake Bruxism

The study assessed masticatory muscle electromyographic (EMG) activity in both children diagnosed with pain-related temporomandibular disorders (TMD-P) and awake bruxism (AB) and in children without TMD, as well as the diagnostic value of surface electromyography (sEMG) in diagnosing TMD-P in subjects with AB. After evaluation based on the Axis I of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD), 30 children diagnosed with myofascial pain were included in the myofascial pain group and 30 children without TMD diagnosis comprised the control group (mean age of 9.49 ± 1.34 years). The activity of the anterior temporal (TA) and masseter (MM) muscle was assessed bilaterally using a DAB-Bluetooth device (zebris Medical GmBH, Germany) at rest and during maximum voluntary clenching (MVC). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the normalized sEMG data. Statistically significant intergroup differences were observed in TA and MM muscle EMG activity at rest and during MVC. Moderate degree of sEMG accuracy in discriminating between TMD-P and non-TMD children was observed for TAmean, left MM, and MMmean EMG muscle activity at rest. sEMG can be a useful tool in assessing myofascial TMD pain in patients with AB

Oral Microbiota in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate: A Systematic Review

Background: Cleft in the lip and/or palate (CLP) is a congenital facial deformity that significantly impacts the oral cavity’s structure and function. This malformation can affect the oral microbiota. The objective of this systematic review was to examine and consolidate the current scientific evidence on the oral microflora in children with CLP. Methods: The search strategy included the PubMed, PubMed Central, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase databases. The inclusion criteria were studies assessing oral microbiota in children with CLP. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Results: The search strategy identified 422 potential articles. Twelve papers met the inclusion criteria. High heterogeneity was observed in methodologies, sample sites, and patient characteristics. Eight studies assessed the levels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus in saliva, with some reporting significantly higher levels in the cleft group compared to controls, while others found no differences. One study reported a significantly higher colonization rate of Candida species in patients with cleft lip and/or palate. Conclusion: The results of the available studies are unclear. Further research is needed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the oral microbiota and potential implications for oral health management in this population. The review was not registered Registration Statement

Electromyographic Study of Masticatory Muscle Function in Children with Down Syndrome

This study assessed the electrical activity of the masticatory muscles in both children with down syndrome (DS) and healthy children. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 patients aged between 7.9 and 11.8 years participated in the study. They were divided into two groups of 15: DS and non-DS. A DAB-Bluetooth device (Zebris Medical GmbH, Germany) was used to record the electromyographical (EMG) activity of the right and left temporal and of the right and left masseter muscles at rest and during maximum voluntary clenching (MVC). The asymmetry index between right and left masticatory muscle EMG activity was calculated for each position. The Mann–Whitney U test was applied to analyze the study results. There were no differences in the electrical activity of the temporal and masseter muscles at rest between the groups. During MVC, the asymmetry index for the masseter muscles was significantly higher in subjects with DS. The electrical potentials of the temporal and masseter muscles in children with DS were significantly lower compared to the corresponding parameters for healthy children when clenching