Consensus on the terminologies and methodologies for masticatory assessment.

A large number of methodological procedures and experimental conditions are reported to describe the masticatory process. However, similar terms are sometimes employed to describe different methodologies. Standardisation of terms is essential to allow comparisons among different studies.

A training program for fibromyalgia management: A 5-year pilot study.

Unlabelled: We studied the effects of a specific cardio training program lasting 5 years on pain and quality of life in fibromyalgia patients.

Method: An observational longitudinal pilot study was conducted in 138 fibromyalgia women. Fibromyalgia women recruited were asked to carry out three sessions per week, each lasting 45 min, of moderate-intensity continuous training (64%-75% Maximal Heart rate [HRmax]).

Masticatory Adaptation to Occlusal Changes.

This review deals with the frequent wide variability of masticatory capacity/incapacity. Neither researchers nor clinicians have taken sufficient account of this variability despite its implications for nutrition. Mastication in normal healthy oral conditions is first described, followed by a short presentation of the mechanisms of masticatory adaptation in the nervous system.

Burning mouth syndrome.

Objective To review the clinical entity of primary burning mouth syndrome (BMS), its pathophysiological mechanisms, accurate new diagnostic methods and evidence-based treatment options, and to describe novel lines for future research regarding aetiology, pathophysiology, and new therapeutic strategies. Description Primary BMS is a chronic neuropathic intraoral pain condition that despite typical symptoms lacks clear clinical signs of neuropathic involvement. With advanced diagnostic methods, such as quantitative sensory testing of small somatosensory and taste afferents, neurophysiological recordings of the trigeminal system, and peripheral nerve blocks, most BMS patients can be classified into the peripheral or central type of neuropathic pain.

Only severe malocclusion correlates with mastication deficiency.

Objectives: The relation between level of dentofacial deformity and extent of masticatory deficiency was studied.

Design: Three groups of human young adults were formed: (i) subjects needing orthodontics plus orthognathic surgery (SevDFD, n=18), (ii) subjects needing orthodontic treatment only (ModDFD, n=12), and (iii) subjects needing no treatment (NoDFD, n=12). For mastication tests, carrot boluses were collected at the deglutition time.

Dysfunctional stress responses in chronic pain.

Many dysfunctional and chronic pain conditions overlap. This review describes the different modes of chronic deregulation of the adaptive response to stress which may be a common factor for these conditions. Several types of dysfunction can be identified within the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis: basal hypercortisolism, hyper-reactivity, basal hypocortisolism and hypo-reactivity.

Different types of antagonists modify the outcome of complete denture renewal.

Purpose: The effect of renewing removable dentures on masticatory function was evaluated according to the occlusion offered by different types of mandibular arches.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-eight patients with complete maxillary dentures were subdivided into three groups in terms of mandibular dentition type: dentate, partial denture, and complete denture. The participants were observed before and 8 weeks after maxillary denture renewal.

Effect of experimental stress in 2 different pain conditions affecting the facial muscles.

Unlabelled: Chronic facial muscle pain is a common feature in both fibromyalgia (FM) and myofascial (MF) pain conditions. In this controlled study, a possible difference in the mode of deregulation of the physiological response to a stressing stimulus was explored by applying an acute mental stress to FM and MF patients and to controls. The effects of the stress test were observed on pain, sympathetic variables, and both tonic and reflex electromyographic activities of masseteric and temporal muscles.

Clinical interpretation of a masticatory normative indicator analysis of masticatory function in subjects with different occlusal and prosthodontic status.

Objectives: To analyse the masticatory function of subjects characterised by different occlusal and prosthodontic status. Using Optosil(®) as a test food, the masticatory normative indicator (MNIOPT) was used to differentiate between sufficient ('normal') and impaired masticatory function.

Methods: Outcomes of occlusal force and masticatory tests were aggregated from three earlier studies dealing with four denture groups and three natural dentition groups.

Contributory role of the tongue and mandible in modulating the in-mouth air cavity at rest.

Objectives: The tongue-to-palate distance influences the volume of the in-mouth air cavity (IMAC), thus conditioning the entry of aromatic compounds to the olfactory mucosa site. This study was set out to record the IMAC volume by measuring tongue-to-palate distance at rest.

Materials And Methods: Twelve young adults in good general health were tested--lips contacting, with at-rest posture of the tongue and jaw during a silent reading task.

Retro-nasal aroma release is correlated with variations in the in-mouth air cavity volume after empty deglutition.

We hypothesized that interindividual differences in motor activities during chewing and/or swallowing were determining factors for the transfer of volatile aroma from the in-mouth air cavity (IMAC) toward the olfactory mucosa. In our first experiment, we looked for changes in IMAC volume after saliva deglutition in 12 healthy subjects. The mean IMAC volume was measured after empty deglutition using an acoustic pharyngometer device.

Role of physical bolus properties as sensory inputs in the trigger of swallowing.

Background: Swallowing is triggered when a food bolus being prepared by mastication has reached a defined state. However, although this view is consensual and well supported, the physical properties of the swallowable bolus have been under-researched. We tested the hypothesis that measuring bolus physical changes during the masticatory sequence to deglutition would reveal the bolus properties potentially involved in swallowing initiation.

Effect of lingual nerve block on burning mouth syndrome (stomatodynia): a randomized crossover trial.

Burning mouth syndrome (stomatodynia) is associated with changes of a neuropathic nature the main location of which, peripheral or central, remains unknown. A randomised, double-blind crossover design was used to investigate the effects of lingual nerve block on spontaneous burning pain and a possible correlation with the effects of topical clonazepam, the patient's response to a psychological questionnaire, and the taste and heat thresholds. The spontaneous burning was measured with a visual analogue scale (VAS) just before and 15 min after injection.

Steroid dysregulation and stomatodynia (burning mouth syndrome).

Stomatodynia ( burning mouth syndrome) is characterized by a spontaneous, continuous burning pain felt in the oral mucosa typically of anxiodepressive menopausal women. Because there is no obvious organic cause, it is considered a nonspecific pain. This Focus Article proposes a hypothesis based on the following pathophysiological cascade: chronic anxiety or post traumatic stress leads to a dysregulation of the adrenal production of steroids.

From movement to pain: a tribute to professor James P. Lund.

This tribute article to Professor James P. Lund stems from 6 of the presentations delivered at the July 1, 2008, symposium that honored 3 "giants" in orofacial neuroscience: B. J.

Effect of a jig on EMG activity in different orofacial pain conditions.

Purpose: The bite stop (jig) is commonly used in clinical practice. It has been recommended as a simple means to routinely record or provide centric relation closure and, more recently, to reduce migraines and tension-type headaches. However, the reason for the jig effect has yet to be explained.

Effect of occlusal appliance wear on chewing in persons with Down syndrome.

The effects of Down syndrome (DS) include orofacial dysmorphology with neuro-motor difficulties and inter-maxillary discrepancy. It is unclear whether improving the inter-arch relationship would suffice to overcome feeding difficulties in persons with DS. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study is a first step in evaluating the impact of wearing an orthetic intra-oral appliance on chewing variables in 8 subjects with DS (4 males and 4 females; mean age: 27.

Is the goal of mastication reached in young dentates, aged dentates and aged denture wearers?

The objective of the present study was to assess the impact of age and dentition status on masticatory function. A three-arm case-control study was performed. Group 1 (n 14) was composed of young fully dentate subjects (age 35.