Differences of Tooth Colorimetric Parameters L*a*b* Depended on Age

AIM: The study aimed to analyse differences in colourimetric parameters L*a*b*, depended on age.MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study were included 255 subjects with age interval from 20 to 49 years. The subjects were divided into three groups, as follows: in the younger group were 20 to 29 years of age, those in the middle group 30 to 39 years and older group 40 to 49 years. The overall number of analysed teeth in the intercanine sector of the maxilla was 2295. The colour of the teeth was measured using the spectrophotometer VITA Easyshade.RESULTS: The results for differences in the colourimetric parameters in relation with age were tested with Pearson Chi-square (c2). For c 2 = 572, 87 and df = 124 there was a statistical significant difference between the ages P < 0.001.CONCLUSION: In this study, it was concluded that the parameter L* - Lightness was decreasing when age increased. In the age group, 20 to 29 years L* was 83.2, whereas in the older group of this investigation; 40 to 49 years was 79.4. In the youngest group, the parameter a* was - 0.7, whereas with increasing of age this parameter was -0.5. The values for parameter b* from the youngest to the older group were from 21.7 to 23.9

Frequency of Symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders among Prishtina Dental Students

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is important for prevention of greater damages of the parts of the oro-facial system. There are early symptoms that can be used as predictors of TMD.AIM: The study aimed to assess the frequency of the symptoms of TMD among dental students.METHODS: Total number of 166 respondents, all undergraduate dental students, (84 female, 82 male), mean age 22, participated in this study. For the study, the questionnaire of Fonseca was used. There were ten questions to answer with: no, sometimes and yes. Fonseca-Clinical index classification is: 0-15 points, no TMD; 20-40 points, mild TMD; 45-65 points, moderate TMD and 70-100 points, severe TMD.RESULTS: Forty-six point four percentages of the students, had no symptoms of TMD, 44.6 % had mild TMD, 7.8% moderate TMD and only 1.2 % had severe TMD. By conventional criteria, there is not any statistical difference of the TMD between male and female (c2 = 1.133, p = 0.769).CONCLUSION: Fonseca questionnaire has its importance in the early diagnosis of TMD that can occur in the young population

Differences between Subjective Balanced Occlusion and Measurements Reported With T-Scan III

BACKGROUND: The aetiology of Temporomandibular disorder is multifactorial, and numerous studies have addressed that occlusion may be of great importance in the pathogenesis of Temporomandibular disorder.AIM: The aim of this study is to determine if any direct relationship exists between balanced occlusion and Temporomandibular disorder and to evaluate the differences between subjective balanced occlusion and measurements reported with T-scan III electronic system.MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 54 subjects were divided into three groups, selection based on anamnesis-responded to a Fonseca questionnaire and clinical measurements analysed with electronic system T-scan III. In the I study group were participants with fixed dentures with prosthetic ceramic restorations. In the II study group were symptomatic participants with TMD. In the third control group were healthy participants with full arch dentition that completed a subjective questionnaire that documented the absence of jaw pain, joint noise, locking and subjects without a history of TMD. The occlusal balance was reported subjectively through Fonseca questionnaire and compared with occlusion analysed with electronic system T-scan III.RESULTS: For attributive data were used percentage of the structure. Differences in P < 0.05 were considered significant. After distributing attributive data of occlusal balance subjectively reported and compared with measurements analysed with electronic system T-scan III were found significant difference P < 0.001 in all three groups.CONCLUSION: In our study, it was concluded that there were statistically significant differences of balanced occlusion in all three groups. Also it was concluded that subjective data are not exact with measurements reported with electronic device T-scan III

ElectromyoFigureic Evaluation of Functional Adaptation of Patients with New Complete Dentures

Objective. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of adaptation of patients to newly fitted complete dentures in their dominant and nondominant sides, by means of ElectromyoFigureic signals. Materials and Methods. Eighty-eight patients with complete dentures were evaluated in the study. Masticatory muscle (masseter and temporal) bioelectric activity of the patients with complete dentures was recorded at maximum intercuspal relation. Parametric statistical data were analyzed with one-way repeated measures ANOVA test. Results. Measurement time was significantly different for both dominant (DS) and nondominant (NDS) sides: FΣs-DS = 21.51, p=0.0001; FΣs-NDS = 13.25, p=0.0001. Gender was also significantly different: FΣs-DS-gender = 41.53, p=0.001; FΣs-NDS-gender = 85.76, p=0.0001. The average surface area values showed significant difference in females. Prior experience with dentures showed no significant difference for both sides of mastication: FΣs-DS-experiences = 1.83, p=0.1772; F Σs-NDS-experiences = 3.30, p=0.0697. Conclusion. The planimetric indicators of bioelectric activity of masseter and temporalis muscles at maximum physiological loading conditions are significant discriminators of the level of functional adaptation of patients with new complete dentures

Evaluation of Maximum Bite Force in Patients with Complete Dentures

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate maximum bite forces (mBF) in dominant (DS) and non-dominant sides (NDS) at certain time periods after the insertion of new complete dentures based on prior experience and gender.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 88 patients, complete denture wearers (CDWs), were examined. The maximum bite force at the intercuspal position between the first molars in 3 seconds was registered and recorded with piezoelectric gnathodynamometer. The procedure was repeated 3 times in identical conditions, with relaxation intervals of 1 minute between repeats and the limiting factor was the subjective feeling of pain. Testing of parametric data was performed with One Way Repeated Measurement of ANOVA test.RESULTS: The average mBF values increased during the observational period, both on the DS and NDS, with significant difference in DS, which was greater. The analysis of one-factor variance showed that there were differences of average mBF values in DS and NDS during six consecutive measurements (mBF–DS = 11.3, p = 0.0001, and mBF-NDS = 2.26, p = 0.047). Significant changes in the masticatory force (mBF) on the DS and NDS is explained by different measurement times and with the prior experience with complete dentures, BF–DS = 11.76, p = 0.0000; mBF–NDS = 2.42, p = 0.0351; mBFe–DS = 40.48; P = 0.0000 mBFe–NDS = 39.93, p = 0.0000.CONCLUSION: mBF represents a significant discriminating variable of the level of functional adaptation of new complete denture wearers (nCDWs) about the initial measurements

The relationship between tooth color, skin and eye color

Tooth color is one of the most important factors in dental and facial esthetics. The aim of this study was to determine the tooth color of the upper frontal teeth in subjects and to provide comparisons with different skin and eye colors. Material and methods Tooth color was determined in 255 patients in the intercanine sector of the maxilla using an intraoral spectrophotometer Vita Easyshade® (Vita Zahnfabrik. H Rauter GmbH & Co. KG. Bad Sackingen. Germany). Skin and eye color was determined by visual perception. The shades of the Vita Tooth Guide 3D Master (Vita Zahnfabrik, H Rauter GmbH & Co, KG, Bad Sackingen, Germany) were registered by the spectrophotometer. Pearson’s chi-squared test was used to examine the differences between tooth color and skin and eye color. Results The most frequent shade registered in the central incisors was 2M1 (62 subjects, 8.10%); in the lateral incisors, 1.5M1.5 (65 subjects, 8.50%); and in the canines, 2M3 (142 subjects, 18.56%). Pearson’s chi-squared test results showed a statistically significant difference in the relations between skin and eye color and central incisor color (p<0.01; p<0.001), lateral incisor color (p<0.001), and canine color (p<0.001; p=0.001). On the other hand, no significant difference was observed in the relation of the lateral incisors and canines with eye color. Conclusion Skin and eye color significantly correlate with tooth color; however, the color of lateral incisors and canines does not correlate significantly with eye color

Evaluation of Sensibility Threshold for Interocclusal Thickness of Patients Wearing Complete Dentures

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate sensibility threshold for interocclusal thickness in experienced and nonexperienced denture wearers after the insertion of new complete dentures. Materials and Methods. A total of 88 patients with complete dentures have participated in this study. The research was divided into two experimental groups, compared with the previous experience prosthetic dental treatment. The sensibility threshold for interocclusal thickness was measured with metal foil with 8 μm thickness and width of 8 mm, placed between the upper and lower incisor region. Statistical analysis was performed using standard software package BMDP (biomedical statistical package). Results. Results suggest that time of measurement affects the average values of the sensibility threshold for interocclusal thickness (F = 242.68, p = 0.0000). Gender appeared to be a significant factor when it interacted with time measurement resulting in differences in sensibility threshold for interocclusal thickness (gender: F = 9.84, p = 0.018; F = 4.83, p = 0.0003). Conclusion. The sensibility threshold for interocclusal thickness was the most important functional adaptation in patient with complete dentures. A unique trait of this indicator is the progressive reduction of initial values and a tendency to reestablish the stationary state in the fifteenth week after dentures is taken off