The Role of Malocclusion and Oral Parafunctions in Predicting Signs and Symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine to what extent malocclusion and parafunctional habits contribute to the development of signs and symptoms associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in schoolchildren with mixed dentition in Croatia in a sample of 338 children, aged 9 to 15 years.

Methods: TMD signs and symptoms assessed by the clinician were joint function and pain, masticatory muscles tenderness, range of mandibular motion, and joint sounds. To evaluate subjective symptoms and parafunctions, children and parents were asked about the presence of headaches, jaw locking, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds, pain during mouth opening, or bruxism, as well as parafunctions like biting pencils or nails, chewing hard candies or ice, daily gum chewing, opening bottles with teeth, engaging in jaw play, thumb-sucking, and clenching/grinding teeth.

Applicability of the Demirjian, Willems and Haavikko methods in Croatian children.

Age estimation is an inescapable part of every identification process. During growth and development, it is possible to estimate age based on the developmental stages of teeth. The aim of this study was to evaluate three frequently used methods for dental age estimation on a broad sample of Croatian children.

Impact of oral hygiene instructions on plaque index in adolescents.

Objective: The objective of the study, which consisted of a motivational lecture and hands-on training, was to evaluate the role of oral hygiene education for adolescents.

Methods: The study population included sixty-two high school students between fourteen and fifteen years of age (thirty males and thirty-two females). The response rate was 76.

New model for dental age estimation: Willems method applied on fewer than seven mandibular teeth.

Willems method measures the developmental stages of the seven left permanent mandibular teeth and is frequently used for dental age estimation. The aim of this study was to test its accuracy on a large sample of the Croatian population and to develop new models for estimation based on one to seven mandibular teeth. The developmental stages were evaluated on the digital, standardized orthopantomograms of 1868 Croatian children aged 5 to 16.

Anatomical variations of the frontal sinus and its relationship with the orbital cavity.

The anatomy of the frontal sinus is highly variable and its variations affect the occurrence/course of pathological processes. We investigated its size and relationship to the orbit, searching for patterns that would allow it to be classified anatomically. Cone beam computed tomography was applied to 91 skulls (age range 21-86 years) to determine sinus height, width, length, and length of contact with the orbit in the coronal and sagittal planes.