Comprehensive analysis of orofacial motor skills in children with obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: The neuromuscular activity has a critical role in the permeability of the upper airways.

Objective: The present study aimed to conduct a detailed and comparative investigation of the orofacial musculature and motor skills of children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Materials And Methods: Children aged 7 to 12 years with OSA (OSA group, n = 12) and without OSA (Control group, n = 12) were compared.

Masticatory function and three-dimensional facial morphology of soft tissues: One year after orthognathic surgery.

Objective: Dentofacial deformities (DFD) require orthodontic treatment, orthognathic surgery, and speech therapy for aesthetic and functional problems. This longitudinal study analyzed changes in masticatory function and three-dimensional (3D) facial soft tissue in patients with Class II and Class III DFD after orthognathic surgery. In addition, the study investigated the relationship between facial measurements, maximum bite force (MBF), and orofacial myofunctional status (OMS).

Relationship between bite force, occlusal contact area, and three-dimensional facial soft tissue in dentofacial deformities.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate three-dimensional facial soft tissue dimensions, maximum bite force (MBF), and occlusal contact area in patients with DFD. In addition, we analyzed the relationship between MBF and the three-dimensional facial measurements.

Methods: Thirty-two patients with skeletal Class III DFD and 20 patients with Class II DFD underwent a soft tissue evaluation using surface laser scanning, as well as MBF and occlusal contact area assessments.

Web version of the protocol of the orofacial myofunctional evaluation with scores: usability and learning.

Purpose: The Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores (OMES) protocol has been validated and used in clinical practice and research. The goals of this study were to develop, analyze and improve a version of OMES for the Web and to investigate the relationship between the usability judgments and the prior experience of the evaluators and whether using the interface promotes learning, as shown by the task completion time (TCT).

Methods: Study steps: 1) inspection of the prototype by the team; 2) evaluation of usability by three experienced speech-language pathologists (SLPs); and 3) evaluation of its usability by 12 SLPs with varying levels of experience in the use of OMES.

Oral motor function in obesity.

Background: Obese individuals may have impaired oral sensory functioning and abnormal oral motor function, a consequence of fat deposition in muscles.

Objective: To evaluate the oral motor function in obese individuals.

Material And Methods: Three observational cross-sectional studies were performed.

Expanded Protocol of Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores for Nursing Infants (6-24 months) (OMES-E Infants).

Purpose: Adapt and validate the content and appearance of the Expanded Protocol of Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores (OMES-E) for nursing infants aged 6 to 24 months.

Methods: This is a validation study. The parameters were based on the literature on orofacial motor development, the authors' experience, and on a committee of ten members.

Changes in jaw and neck muscle coactivation and coordination in patients with chronic painful TMD disk displacement with reduction during chewing.

The treatment of a complex temporomandibular disorder (TMD), such as disk displacement with reduction (DDR) associated with arthralgia and myalgia, may depends on understanding the impairments in muscle function. The aim of this study was to investigate the behavior of the anterior temporalis, masseter and sternocleidomastoid muscles in the time and frequency domains during chewing in patients with chronic painful TMD-DDR using electromyographic (EMG) analysis. Thirty-three patients who met the diagnostic criteria for TMD and 32 volunteers without TMD (control group) underwent clinical examination, chewing pattern classification and EMG analysis.

Orofacial functions and forces in male and female healthy young and adults.

Purpose: To determine reference values of orofacial myofunctional condition and orofacial forces in healthy young and adults.

Methods: Fifty young and adults were selected from a total of 316 voluntaries. Participants were assessed with the Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores (OMES) for the investigation of orofacial myofunctional condition.

Tongue strength, masticatory and swallowing dysfunction in patients with chronic temporomandibular disorder.

Background: The possible factors related to functional impairment and limitations in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) still need to be clarified because recovery of orofacial functions is a goal of their treatment.

Objective: To investigate whether chronic TMD patients had any changes in tongue strength, besides the difficulty in chewing and orofacial functional impairment, compared to a control group. Moreover, to examine whether tongue strength, chewing difficulties, and orofacial functions were associated.

Orofacial Motor Functions and Temporomandibular Disorders in Patients With Sjögren's Syndrome.

Objective: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) induces difficulty in chewing and swallowing due to low salivary flow. However, these symptoms may be associated with other factors, such as orofacial myofunctional disorders and temporomandibular disorder (TMD), which have not been comprehensively assessed in this population. The aims of this study were to investigate orofacial muscles and functions as well as the presence of TMD in patients with SS compared with a group without SS and to analyze whether the patients' experience of limitations in orofacial functioning is associated with the orofacial functional status and muscle pain related to TMD.

Swallowing changes related to chronic temporomandibular disorders.

Objectives: To investigate whether chronic temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients showed any changes in swallowing compared to a control group. Moreover, it was examined whether swallowing variables and a valid clinic measure of orofacial myofunctional status were associated.

Material And Methods: Twenty-three patients with chronic TMD, diagnosed with disc displacement with reduction (DDR) and pain, according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD), and 27 healthy volunteers (control group) were compared.

Obstructive sleep apnea: focus on myofunctional therapy.

Purpose: Orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) is a modality of treatment for children and adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to promote changes in the musculature of the upper airways. This review summarizes and discusses the effects of OMT on OSA, the therapeutic programs employed, and their possible mechanisms of action.

Methods: We conducted an online literature search using the databases MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science.

Reliability and Validity of the Italian Version of the Protocol of Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores (I-OMES).

Objective: To evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Italian OMES (I-OMES).

Patients And Methods: The study consisted of 3 phases: (1) internal consistency and reliability, (2) validity, and (3) responsiveness analysis. The recruited population included 27 patients with orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMD) and 174 healthy volunteers.

Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation Protocol for older people: validity, psychometric properties, and association with oral health and age.

Purpose: To develop a comprehensive assessment protocol for identifying, classifying and grading changes in stomatognathic system components and functions of older people, to determine its psychometric properties and verify its association with oral health and age.

Methods: The content validity of the Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores for Elders protocol (OMES-Elders) was established based on the literature. The protocol contains three domains: appearance/posture, mobility, and functions of the stomatognathic system.

An index for the evaluation of 3D masticatory cycles stability.

Objectives: To introduce an index (Masticatory Stability Index, MSI) to analyze the stability of chewing cycles in standardized conditions and test it in a group of patients with subclinical mild temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

Design: 23 subjects with mild subacute TMD and 21 healthy subjects were involved; they all responded to a questionnaire about signs and symptoms of TMD (ProTMDmulti) and underwent a myofunctional orofacial evaluation with scores, using the protocol of orofacial myofunctional evaluation with scores (OMES). Their mandibular kinematics was assessed with a 3D motion capture system during deliberate unilateral gum chewing.

Reorganization of muscle activity in patients with chronic temporomandibular disorders.

Objective: To investigate whether reorganization of muscle activity occurs in patients with chronic temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and, if so, how it is affected by symptomatology severity.

Methods: Surface electromyography (sEMG) of masticatory muscles was made in 30 chronic TMD patients, diagnosed with disc displacement with reduction (DDR) and pain. Two 15-patient subgroups, with moderate (TMDmo) and severe (TMDse) signs and symptoms, were compared with a control group of 15 healthy subjects matched by age.

Orofacial motor functions in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and implications for myofunctional therapy.

Objectives: The purposes of this study were (1) to identify possible differences in muscular and orofacial functions between children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and with primary snoring (PS); (2) to examine the standardized difference between normal values of myofunctional scores and those of subjects with OSA or PS; and (3) to identify the features associated with OSA.

Methods: Participants were 39 children (mean age 8 ± 1.2 years) of which, 27 had a diagnosis of OSA and 12 had PS.

Normalizing surface electromyographic measures of the masticatory muscles: Comparison of two different methods for clinical purpose.

Purpose: To compare a new normalization technique (wax pad, WAX) with the currently utilized cotton roll (COT) method in surface electromyography (sEMG) of the masticatory muscles.

Methods: sEMG of the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles of 23 subjects was recorded while performing two repetitions of 5s maximum voluntary clenches (MVC) on COT and WAX. For each task, the mean value of sEMG amplitude and its coefficient of variation were calculated, and the differences between the two repetitions computed.

Patients with myogenic temporomandibular disorders have reduced oxygen extraction in the masseter muscle.

Objective: The objective of the present study is to investigate if changes in the oxygen saturation of masseter muscle during a chewing task can differentiate patients with myogenic temporomandibular disorders (TMD) from healthy subjects and if these differences are related to the gravity of the disorder and to the orofacial myofunctional status.

Materials And Methods: Twelve women with moderate TMD (TMD group; 37 ± 16 years) and ten healthy control women (CTRL group 24 ± 5 years) participated. Validated protocols were used to evaluate the severity of TMD and the orofacial myofunctional status.

Effects of oral motor exercises and laser therapy on chronic temporomandibular disorders: a randomized study with follow-up.

This study investigated the efficacy of combining low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with oral motor exercises (OM-exercises) for rehabilitation of patients with chronic temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Eighty-two patients with chronic TMD and 20 healthy subjects (control group) participated in the study. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment groups: GI (LLLT + OM exercises), GII (orofacial myofunctional therapy-OMT-which contains pain relief strategies and OM-exercises), and GIII (LLLT placebo + OM-exercises) and GIV (LLLT).

Signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in women and men.

Introduction: Women are more likely to present temporomandibular disorders (TMD); however, studies comparing genders in Brazilian samples are rare.

Purpose: To analyze the proportion of men and women, as well as the association between gender and age, problem duration, and TMD symptoms in patients admitted to an university clinic for treatment.

Methods: Interview and assessment data of protocols from 1,000 patients diagnosed with TMD were collected and analyzed and then divided into two groups, male (n = 177) and female (n = 823).

Analysis of tongue pressure in Brazilian young adults.

Purpose: To present the measures for tongue pressure in Brazilian young adults, considering specific tasks, and to verify the differences regarding gender and according to the tasks.

Methods: Fifty-one volunteers aged 18 to 28 years, of both genders with normal occlusion and without speech disorders were evaluated. We used the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument in the evaluation of tongue pressure (kilopascal) during specific tests of elevation, protrusion, swallowing, and lateralization, in addition to the endurance test (seconds).

Computerized protocol of orofacial myofunctional evaluation with scores: usability and validity.

Purpose: To test the usability of Computerized Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation (OMES) protocol and analyze its validity.

Methods: The study was divided into three stages: the first stage, production of the computerized version of OMES. The second stage was the validation of the user's interface, in which 100 OMES protocols of a database, filled in printed version, were transferred using the computerized instrument.

Surface electromyography and magnetic resonance imaging of the masticatory muscles in patients with arthrogenous temporomandibular disorders.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to verify the characteristics of surface electromyography (sEMG) of masticatory muscles in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) with differing pathology.

Study Design: A total of 24 patients with TMDs were categorized according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD); magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) classified the patients as having disk displacement alone (DD) (mean age, 22 years; SD, 5; 3 men, 6 women) or having osteoarthrosis with or without disk displacement (OA) (mean age, 37 years; SD, 10; 4 men, 11 women); sEMG was performed according to a standardized protocol.

Results: The MRI score was significantly correlated to the torque coefficient (r = 0.