Relationship between facial profile, dental occlusion's class, active movements of the temporomandibular joints and body posture

Abstract

Problem of study: The close anatomical and neuronal (sensory and motor) linkage between the upper cervical spine and the craniofacial section documented in literature accounts for relationships between the jaw position and the inclination of the cervical spine. The issue of relationships between dental occlusion, body posture and temporomandibular disorders is a controversial topic in dentistry, and it is often a source of speculations. A description of the available knowledge about the physiology of the body posture–dental occlusion relationship is fundamental to discuss the possible diagnostic and therapeutic implications of the assessment of body posture in subjects with occlusal abnormalities or patients with temporomandibular disorders . As a consequence, a growing number of patients are seeking concomitant treatment for dental malocclusions and postural disorders, who firstly address questions to orthopaedists and general physicians and thereafter are referred to dentists. Unfortunately, most clinicians are often unacquainted with this topic and the current scientific evidence of causality between the two conditions is weak or absent. Object of study: relationship between dental occlusion, active movements of the temporomandibular joints and body posture. Hypothesis of study: we believe that there is relationship between dental malocclusion, facial profile, disturbed active movements of temporomandibular joints and abnormal body posture. Aim of study: to determinate relationship between dental occlusion, facial profile, active movements of temporomandibular joints and body posture. Goals of study: 1. To assess dental occlusion type of facial profile of volunteers. 2. To evaluate active movements of temporomandibular joints. 3. To assess body posture of volunteers. 4. To determinate the correlation between assessed rates. Methods and organization of study: The study involved 52 subjects. Participants were divided into two age groups: first group (n=42, 20 – 28 years) and second group (n=10, 45 – 49). 1987 W. W. K. Hoeger subjective volunteer’s posture evaluation model, where the deviation from the norm was defined by score, was chosen to use for evaluation. Also posture rated and digitally. Subjects photographs of posture were rated by software AutoCAD 2013 programme. Separate body segments were examined in frontal and sagittal plane. Separate body parts were evaluated by scores: GOOD – 5, SATISFACTORY – 3, BAD – 1. Dental occlusion was assessed according to Angle classification, and facial profile type is determined the location of the chin and upper lip against the top. The analysis of the gathered study data was processed by SPSS 19.0 computer program for Windows. Conclusions: 1. Normal facial profile type is defined in 17% of subjects. Normal dental occlusion class provides in 51% of the subjects. 2. Active movement of opening of the mouth was impaired in 67% of subjects. 3. Good posture is defined in 7% , satisfactory - 75%, and the poor - 7% of subjects. 4. No strong, statistically significant linkage between the evaluated parameters were found