Prevalence of tinnitus in patients with different temporomandibular disorders symptoms.

Objective: To compare the prevalence of tinnitus in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients affected by either jaw muscle pain, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) internal derangements, or TMJ arthrosis.

Methods: The presence of self-reported tinnitus was assessed in 250 consecutive TMD patients and correlation analysis was performed with clinical TMD signs and symptoms.

Results: Tinnitus prevalence in the TMD population was 30.

Long-Term Symptoms Onset and Heterotopic Bone Formation around a Total Temporomandibular Joint Prosthesis: a Case Report.

Background: The literature on total alloplastic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) reconstructions is encouraging, and studies on total alloplastic TMJ replacements outcomes showed acceptable improvements in terms of both pain levels and jaw function. Nevertheless, some adverse events, such as heterotopic bone formation around the implanted prosthesis, may occur. In consideration of that, the present manuscript describes a case of heterotopic bone formation around a total temporomandibular joint prosthesis, which occurred several years after the implant.

A conservative surgical approach to temporomandibular joint ankylosis.

The current article describes a case of a patient with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis undergoing surgery performed with a tailored technique for condylar reshaping. A patient with posttraumatic bilateral TMJ ankylosis underwent interpositional arthroplasty with temporalis fascia, and focus was put on the need to maintain the vertical height of the mandible. The postoperative course was uneventful, and positive outcomes were kept during a 1-year follow-up span.

Spring-bite: a new device for jaw motion rehabilitation. A case report.

The present paper describes the design features, potential indications and a clinical application of a newly designed device for jaw motion rehabilitation, the Spring-Bite. This device is characterized by a first class lever mechanism, which allows performing passive jaw motion rehabilitation at constant load without an active participation by the patient. Spring-Bite was developed for the management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) hypomobility and its application may be much useful in the post-operatory phases of TMJ or orthognathic surgeries as well as in patients with reduced muscular force.

Chronic oroantral fistula: combined endoscopic and intraoral approach under local anesthesia.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of combined surgical treatment of oroantral communications associated with chronic maxillary sinusitis.

Patients And Methods: 8 consecutive patients affected by complicated oroantral fistula were included in the study. The protocol consisted of: clinical, endoscopic and radiological preoperative evaluation (panoramic tomogram and computed tomography); systemic antibiotic and steroid therapy 2 weeks before surgery; one-stage surgical procedure under local anaesthesia consisting in uncinectomy with enlargement of the osteomeatal complex through endoscopic nasal approach associated with the closure of the oroantral communication by means of a mucoperiosteal flap; postoperative antibiotic and cortisone-based therapy.

Comparison of 2 hyaluronic acid drugs for the treatment of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis.

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of 2 treatment protocols providing 5 weekly temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthrocenteses immediately followed by injections of 2 different molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) drugs to manage symptoms in patients with inflammatory-degenerative TMJ disease.

Materials And Methods: Patients with a Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders diagnosis of osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 study groups receiving either low- or medium-molecular weight HA after arthrocentesis. The level of maximum pain at chewing was the primary outcome variable, and maximum pain at rest, subjective chewing efficiency, functional limitation, treatment tolerability, perceived treatment effectiveness, and jaw range-of-motion function in millimeters were the secondary outcomes.

Treatment effectiveness of arthrocentesis plus hyaluronic acid injections in different age groups of patients with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis.

Purpose: To investigate for treatment effectiveness in different age groups of patients with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis who underwent a cycle of 5 weekly arthrocenteses plus hyaluronic acid injections.

Materials And Methods: We implemented a retrospective study on 76 patients followed up for 1 year. Outcome variables were pain levels at rest and during chewing, subjective masticatory efficiency, functional limitation, perceived efficacy, and jaw range of motion.

Osteomalacia: the missing link in the pathogenesis of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws?

Background: Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is a well-documented adverse event from treatment with nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (NBPs). During a preliminary histomorphometric study aimed at assessing the rate of bone remodeling in the jaws of patients with surgically resected BRONJ, we found a defect of bone mineralization (unpublished data). We hypothesized that osteomalacia could be a risk factor for BRONJ in patients taking NBPs.

Myositis ossificans traumatica of the temporalis muscle: a case report and diagnostic considerations.

Background: The present paper reported the case of a trauma-related myositis ossificans, with focus on considerations for a differential diagnosis process.

Case Report: A 50-year-old male with a severe painful limitation (12 mm) of jaw opening referred a trauma to the right temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area occurring about 40 days before. Posttraumatic TMJ ankylosis was ruled out on the basis of negative magnetic resonance and cone-beam computerized tomography findings, and the patient underwent treatment with arthrocentesis, botulinum toxin injections, and physiotherapy on the basis of two diagnostic hypotheses, viz.

Long-term outcomes of surgical resection of the jaws in cancer patients with bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis.

Surgical treatment of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is controversial. Current recommendations contraindicate aggressive surgery because its results are unpredictable and may trigger disease progression. In this prospective study, we assessed the effectiveness of surgical resection of the jaws in cancer patients with BRONJ.

Chronic pain severity and depression/somatization levels in TMD patients.

Purpose: The Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) axis II for psychosocial assessment was adopted to grade chronic pain severity and to correlate that severity with levels of depression and somatization in a population of chronic TMD patients.

Materials And Methods: A series of 111 consecutive patients who sought treatment for TMD symptoms lasting longer than 6 months were recruited and underwent assessment using the RDC/TMD axis II instrument. The frequencies of the different scores from the Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS) and the Symptoms Checklist-90R Depression (SCL-DEP) and Somatization (SCL-SOM) scales in the study population were recorded.

Predictive value of combined clinically diagnosed bruxism and occlusal features for TMJ pain.

Several works showed a decreased role for occlusion in the etiology of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Nonetheless, it may be hypothesized that occlusion acts as a modulator through which bruxism activities may cause damage to the stomatognathic structures. To test this hypothesis, a logistic regression model was created with the inclusion of clinically diagnosed bruxism and eight occlusal features as potential predictors for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain in a sample of 276 consecutive TMD patients.

Imaging of facial soft tissues in multislice computerized tomography: a new geometric method of analysis and its statistical validation.

Objective: The main purpose of this preliminary study was to propose an original analysis of facial soft tissues' depth to detect their topographic variability, which causes are intrinsic (depth) and extrinsic (bone shape and reciprocal correlations with soft tissues themselves). To check the utility and accuracy of the method in recognizing measures' differences, other aims were comparison of two different groups of people and statistical validation.

Study Design: The study sample was composed of 100 consecutive patients (56 females and 44 males) undergoing a routine CT scanning.

Modified enucleation for choroidal melanoma with large extrascleral extension.

Purpose: To report the technique and the outcome of modified (enlarged) enucleation via lateral orbitotomy for choroidal melanomas with massive extrascleral extension.

Methods: 5 patients with choroidal malanoma with massive, circumscribed perioptic/posterior extrascleral extension underwent modified enucleation via lateral orbitotomy. After lateral orbitotomy and orbital mass exposure with direct tumor visualization, a long optic nerve stump was cut and the orbital component of the tumor was completely (macroscopically) removed along with the globe in all cases.

Occurrence of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw after surgical tooth extraction.

Purpose: To evaluate the occurrence of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) in patients exposed to nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (NBPs) requiring surgical tooth extraction.

Patients And Methods: Sixty high-risk patients exposed to NBPs underwent surgical tooth extraction with bone biopsy and were treated with a 7-day cycle of oral antibiotics and discontinuation of NBPs for 1 month. BRONJ was defined as the occurrence of any BRONJ stage (0-3) at 3, 6, or 12 months of follow-up.

Age peaks of different RDC/TMD diagnoses in a patient population.

Aims: To evaluate the prevalence of different Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) diagnoses in a population of patients seeking for TMD treatment at a tertiary clinic in Northern Italy; to evaluate the pattern of age distribution of RDC/TMD diagnoses and to compare data with those from similar studies in the literature.

Materials And Methods: Two-hundred-forty-three (N=243) consecutive patients seeking TMD treatment at the TMD Clinic, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Padova, Italy, during the period from July 1st to December 31st, 2008, underwent a RDC/TMD axis I assessment by the use of a systematically translated Italian version of the RDC/TMD guidelines.

Results: One-hundred-ninety-nine (N=199) patients (female:male ratio 5:1, mean age 39.

Short-term effects of arthrocentesis plus viscosupplementation in the management of signs and symptoms of painful TMJ disc displacement with reduction. A pilot study.

Aim: To provide data on the short-term effect of a cycle of five weekly arthrocenteses plus hyaluronic acid injections in the management of signs and symptoms of painful disc displacements.

Methods: Thirty-one consecutive patients (25 females, six males; mean age 42.4) with a combined diagnosis of disc displacement with reduction and arthralgia according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders underwent a cycle of five arthrocenteses with injections (one per week) of 1 ml hyaluronic acid.

Unilateral masseter muscle hypertrophy: morphofunctional analysis of the relapse after treatment with botulinum toxin.

This is a case of unilateral masseter muscle hypertrophy (MMH) treated with botulinum toxin (NHAI-normalised hemi-facial asymmetry index improvement from 5.48 to 3.04).

Total temporomandibular joint replacement: a clinical case with a proposal for post-surgical rehabilitation.

Objective: The literature on total alloplastic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) reconstructions is encouraging, and studies on total alloplastic TMJ replacements' outcomes showed acceptable improvements in terms of both pain levels and jaw function. Nevertheless, a better standardization of both surgical and post-surgical phases should further improve the efficacy of treatment.

Materials And Methods: The case report describes the surgical and post-surgical phases of treatment in a patient who underwent a total unilateral joint replacement for TMJ ankylosis, along with a proposal for a post-surgical rehabilitation protocol providing strong passive and active physiotherapy and hyaluronic acid injections to the contralateral joint.

Surgical treatment of chronic temporomandibular joint dislocation: a case report.

Introduction: Chronic dislocation of temporomandibular joint is usually treated with conservative approaches, but in some cases, surgery is needed to avoid recurrencies. The present paper described a case report of a bilateral intervention for articular tubercle height augmentation by means of calvaria bone grafts.

Materials And Methods: A 32-year-old woman attended the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Padova, Italy, in January 2007 seeking treatment for a bilateral recurrent temporomandibular joint dislocation.

Efficacy of botulinum toxin in treating myofascial pain in bruxers: a controlled placebo pilot study.

The present investigation is a preliminary double-blind, controlled placebo, randomized clinical trial with a six month follow-up period. The study aimed to assess the efficacy of type A botulinum toxin (Botox, Allergan, Inc. Irvine, CA) to treat myofascial pain symptoms and to reduce muscle hyperactivity in bruxers.

Arthrocentesis of the temporomandibular joint: a proposal for a single-needle technique.

Arthrocentesis is a method of flushing out the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that is currently performed by providing a double access to the joint space. Several studies have shown that arthrocentesis of the upper compartment of the TMJ may be a highly effective method to restore normal maximal mouth opening and functioning. Nonetheless, the classical 2-needle technique has some limits, such as the low tolerability and difficulty in performing it in the presence of intra-articular adherences.

Soft tissue facial planes and masticatory muscle function in skeletal Class III patients before and after orthognathic surgery treatment.

Purpose: To noninvasively assess the facial soft tissues and masticatory muscle function before and after orthognathic surgery.

Patients And Methods: Eight patients aged 18 to 36 years, all with a skeletal Class III and mandibular asymmetry, were assessed both before (on average, 2 months) and after (on average, 10.5 months) surgical intervention (mandibular reduction by sagittal split osteotomy and Le Fort I maxillary advancement).

Bisphosphonate-associated jawbone osteonecrosis: a correlation between imaging techniques and histopathology.

Objectives: Recently, jawbone osteonecrosis has been reported as a potential adverse effect of bisphosphonates administration. This paper considers and highlights histopathologic and radiologic features of this condition.

Study Design: Eleven patients, owing to unresponsiveness to conservative treatment and uncontrollable pain, underwent surgical resection of diseased jawbone after extensive hyperbaric oxygen therapy.