Temporary splinting in periodontally mobile teeth: review before application
Introduction
Temporary splinting of mobile, periodontally compromised teeth is an important stage in the complex treatment of periodontitis, used to improve mastication, aesthetics, and the prognosis for teeth with pathological mobility. It helps prevent this phenomenon and consolidate the success of conservative and surgical treatment, which also has a positive effect on the patient's psycho-emotional state.
Material and methods
12 patients (6 female and 6 male), aged 26–60 years, with pathological teeth mobility due to chronic generalized periodontitis, were included in the study. Temporary splinting was performed using fiberglass threads braided with polyester microfibers, polyethylene fibers, and aramid fibers, and in all clinical cases, it was secured with photo-composite material designed for teeth splinting.
Results
Temporary splinting is a very important step in periodontitis treatment, and dynamic monitoring is necessary throughout the entire period of splinting. The interval between visits is determined based on the type of splinting, the risk of complications, the severity of periodontitis, systemic and local factors, the level of individual oral hygiene, and the patient's motivation. The interval can be 6 months, 4 months, or, in aggressive forms of periodontitis, 2 months.
Conclusions
Temporary splinting contributes to the effectiveness of pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy.
The role of the lateral pterygoid muscle in temporomandibular disorders
Introduction
The clinical concept that would argue that the activity of the lateral pterygoid muscle, being disturbed, would play an important role as an etiological factor in temporomandibular joint dysfunctions is still widely accepted, being also a decisive factor in the correct choice of the treatment plan. However, because of the fact that very few research and clear evidence were conducted and presented to support completely that concept, it continues to remain a very controversial one.
Materials and methods
For this literature review were considered and studied scientific articles published between 2000 and 2023, in the following electronic databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, BIR Publications, ScienceDirect. Research methods – analysis, synthesis, systematization, and description.
Results
Patients presenting temporomandibular joint dysfunction complain about pain in the temporomandibular joint or/and in masticatory muscles, limitation and sounds during mandibular activity. Temporomandibular dysfunction is a non-specific collective term, used to describe a heterogeneous group of pathological conditions located in the territory of the stomatognathic system. These are considered musculoskeletal conditions that cause pain while performing the function (mastication, speech, swallowing), with increased sensitivity in the masticatory muscles and/or the temporomandibular joint, with possible limitations of the range of motion, the appearance of joint noises and otological symptoms. One of the theories claims that in temporomandibular dysfunction, the lateral pterygoid muscle becomes hyperactive, hypoactive or that there is a lack of coordination between the superior and inferior branches of the muscle, or that there is a disturbance during the performance of the role of the muscle to control and stabilize the temporomandibular joint. However, the in-depth study of the specialized literature indicates that no scientific evidence is yet available that the function of the lateral pterygoid muscles in temporomandibular dysfunction is somehow disturbed. Moreover, the muscle's role during the execution of its normal function has also been questioned and remains a matter of controversy.
Conclusions
The lateral pterygoid muscle obviously plays an important role in the development of temporomandibular dysfunction through the prism of its anatomical and functional particularities, referring to the superior fascicle responsible for the correct anatomical maintenance of the articular disc during function.