Evaluation of stomatognathic function in orthodontic treatment.

Aim: To evaluate changes in stomatognathic function related to orthodontic treatment in 4 patients with various types of dysfunction of the stomatognathic system present prior to orthodontic treatment.

Methods: Four patients who visited the Orthodontic Clinic at Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital and whose active orthodontic treatment was complete were analyzed both morphologically and functionally. To analyze stomatognathic function, electromyographic activity of the masticatory muscles and mandibular movements was recorded.

Effects of mandibular advancement on brain activation during inspiratory loading in healthy subjects: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Oral appliances have been a popular treatment option for subjects with obstructive sleep apnea. However, little information is available on how brain activation induced by respiratory challenge is modulated by mandibular advancement with these appliances. We hypothesized that the brain activation caused by respiratory stress may be alleviated by mandibular advancement.

Craniofacial morphology of skeletal class III patients before treatment and growth-related changes during treatment with a maxillary protraction appliance: a comparison of orthodontic and surgical cases.

Aims: To examine differences in the craniofacial morphology of skeletal Class III patients before treatment and growth-related changes during treatment with a maxillary protraction appliance (MPA) between patients who were treated only orthodontically (orthodontic group) and those who eventually received orthognathic surgery (surgical group).

Methods: The orthodontic and surgical groups consisted of 6 boys and 9 girls and 4 boys and 6 girls, respectively. Lateral cephalograms taken at the first visit and at the end of treatment with the MPA were measured.

Oral appliance titration and nasal resistance in nonapneic subjects.

Initial mandibular position might be a key factor leading to rapid therapeutic outcome in oral appliance therapy for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an adjustable oral appliance on nasal resistance in 7 nonapneic patients. Upright and supine nasal resistance was measured for each subject with an adjustable oral appliance in place in 3 mandibular positions: most retruded (MAX0), maximum protrusion (MAX100), and 67% of MAX100 (MAX67).

Effects of mandibular advancement on supine airway size in normal subjects during sleep.

Study Objectives: To examine changes in the upper-airway dimension and its surrounding structures induced by mandibular advancement during sleep.

Design: Eleven nonapneic adult males participated in the study. A set of supine lateral cephalograms was taken for each subject at the end of expiration during stage 1 and 2 non-rapid-eye-movement sleep with and without a Klearway appliance (Great Lakes Orthodontics, NY, USA), which was adjusted to 67% of the maximum protrusion position.

Effects of experimental nasal obstruction on human masseter and suprahyoid muscle activities during sleep.

The effect of nasal obstruction on nocturnal masseter and suprahyoid muscle activities using a newly developed portable electromygram (EMG)-recording unit was examined. Ten healthy Japanese males participated in this study. EMG activities of both the right masseter and bilateral suprahyoid muscles were recorded with a portable EMG-recording unit.

Effects of mandibular position and body posture on nasal patency in normal awake subjects.

The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in nasal patency induced by forward mandibular displacement or changes in body posture. Fifteen healthy adults participated in this study. To examine the influence of mandibular position, nasal resistance was recorded in intercuspal, middle, and maximum forward positions.

The treatment of hemimandibular hyperplasia preserving enlarged condylar head.

Objective: To present a case of hemimandibular hyperplasia (HH) treated with orthognathic surgery that preserves the condyle without disturbing mandibular function.

Methods: A 27-year-old woman with HH was treated with orthognathic surgery preserving the enlarged condylar head. Radiographic examination showed typical enlargement of the right condyle, elongation of the right ascending ramus and mandibular body, and tilted occlusal plane.

Comparison of the sizes of adenoidal tissues and upper airways of subjects with and without cleft lip and palate.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare 2-dimensionally the sizes of the adenoidal tissues and the upper airways in juvenile and adolescent males with and without cleft lip and palate (CLP). Two paired groups of age-matched boys were used: (1) 90 juveniles with CLP (CLP/j) and without CLP (control/j) and (2) 40 adolescents with CLP (CLP/a) and without CLP (control/a). Measurements of adenoidal tissues and upper airways were determined by using lateral cephalograms.

Nocturnal masseter and suprahyoid muscle activity induced by wearing a bionator.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a bionator on masseter and suprahyoid muscle activities during sleep. Ten healthy Japanese males (mean age: 26.3 years) participated in this study.

Effects of maxillary protraction on craniofacial structures and upper-airway dimension.

This study was conducted to examine the effect of treatment with a maxillary protraction appliance on the development of the craniofacial structures and upper-airway dimensions. A total of 25 patients (mean age: 9.8 years) with Class III malocclusions were evaluated by the use of lateral cephalograms.

Relationship between formation/eruption of maxillary teeth and skeletal pattern of maxilla.

Previous reports have indicated that formation and eruption of the maxillary teeth, especially the molars, are delayed in skeletal Class III patients compared with Class I and Class II patients. However, the relationship between the formation/eruption of maxillary teeth and the skeletal pattern of the maxilla is not yet clear. To examine this relationship, we studied 81 skeletal Class III Japanese patients (mean age, 8.