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Biomedical subjects

A G Pullinger

Publications and source records attributed to A G Pullinger.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Trauma history in diagnostic groups of temporomandibular disorders.

Trauma history was studied for association with disease among six diagnostic subgroups of 230 patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) from a private practice setting with (1) disk displacement (DD) with reduction, (2) DD without reduction, (3) osteoarthrosis (OA) with prior derangement history, (4) primary OA, (5) myalgia only, and (6) subluxation only. Except for subluxation (29%), trauma history typified TMD patient groups 1 to 5 (63%, 79%, 44%, 53%, 54%) (p less than 0.001) compared with 13% and 18% of asymptomatic (n = 61) and symptomatic (n = 161) student control subjects, and 11% of general dental patients (n = 150). TMD groups 2 and 3 differed significantly (p less than 0.05). The high prevalence of trauma in the myalgia-only group complicates the concept of myofascial pain-dysfunction syndrome as solely a stress or centrally mediated disorder. DD without reduction (43%) and with reduction (38%) had the highest prevalences of motor vehicle accident trauma, myalgia and OA groups had less, and subluxation-only cases had none. On the other hand, patients with DD without reduction were also the only group to report multiple trauma (29%), suggesting that although specific traumatic events may seem to precipitate clinical symptoms, they may not always have initiated the problem. Trauma may be both an important cumulative and precipitating event in TMDs.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1991

Overbite and overjet characteristics of refined diagnostic groups of temporomandibular disorder patients.

Overbite and overjet were studied as continuous variables to examine for any relationship to diagnostic groups of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) compared with symptom-free controls. This avoided the bias of arbitrary definitions of normal and abnormal for these occlusal variables and also avoided the masking effect of studying symptoms rather than diagnostic entities. Incisal overbite in primary osteoarthrosis (OA) was shifted toward the minimal and open bite ranges as compared with the controls (p less than 0.02). Open bite occurred in only the two OA classes studied and in a few cases with myalgia only but was absent in the symptom-free controls. Overbite in myalgia was slightly skewed to the lower range. Deep bite was not more common in the myalgia, disk displacement (with or without reduction), or the OA groups. Increased overjet characterized OA groups, especially when there was a history of derangement (p less than 0.004), but did not characterize the other diagnostic groups. Except for open bite, overbite and overjet characteristics as isolated variables did not distinguish TMD patient groups. It is hypothesized that open bite in OA can be the result of joint changes rather than a predisposing occlusal cause.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The role of intercuspal occlusal relationships in temporomandibular disorders: a review.

The purpose of this review is to highlight consensus in past research on the role of intercuspal occlusal factors in the pathophysiology of temporomandibular disorders. The occlusal intercuspal relationships considered are skeletal anterior open bite, overbite, overjet, symmetry of contacts in the retruded contact position (RCP), crossbite, and posterior occlusal support. Skeletal anterior open bite, reduced overbite, and increased overjet are associated with osteoarthritic TMJ patients, but lack specificity for defining patient populations per se. There is no evidence that overbite or overjet plays a role in the pathophysiology of nonarthritic disorders. A combination of unilateral RCP with an absence of a clinically apparent RCP-ICP (intercuspal position) slide may encourage TMJ disc displacement, but unilateral RCP per se was not associated with TMJ diagnoses. Crossbite does not seem to provoke TMJ symptoms or disease. Lost molar support may be associated with osteoarthrosis presence and severity, but studies have not yet been distinguished for age effects. Where appropriate, implications for clinical practice are drawn.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

The role of functional occlusal relationships in temporomandibular disorders: a review.

This review highlights the consensus existing in past research on the role of functional occlusal factors in the pathophysiology of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The functional occlusal relationships considered are balancing and working occlusal contacts, length and symmetry of retruded contact position-intercuspal position (RCP-ICP) slides, occlusal guidance patterns, parafunction, and dental attrition. Controlled studies fail to demonstrate any association between occlusal interferences and TMD signs or symptoms. Temporomandibular joint condylar autorepositioning secondary to intracapsular arthrosis is associated with larger and asymmetric RCP-ICP slides. Other TMD conditions are not associated with any slide length or asymmetries. Occlusal guidance patterns are not associated with TMD symptom provocation or, conversely, health. Parafunction appears to be universal and is not associated with TMD development or symptomatology in healthy individuals. Furthermore, parafunction is not provoked by longstanding, naturally occurring occlusal variations. Dental attrition is not associated with TMD, and any observed increased attrition in osteoarthrosis patients is likely the result of age effects and occlusal alterations secondary to condylar positional changes.

Bruxism↗
PubMed1990

Relationship of TMJ articular soft tissue to underlying bone in young adult condyles.

This investigation used a histological model to study the relationship of articular soft-tissue thickness and contour to the underlying bone in the TMJ condyle of young adults. The usefulness of selected dental and demographic factors in the prediction of the articular soft-tissue thickness and contour was also tested. One sagittal histological section was studied from the lateral, central, and medial thirds of 53 left mandibular condyles. Outline tracings of the articular and compact bone surface were divided into anterior, superior, and posterior sectors for the study of curvature measured by the overlaying of a template of a harmonic series of arcs. The thickness and composition of the articular tissues were measured in each sector by light microscopy. The fibrous connective tissue layer always maintained the articular surface, even in the absence of a cartilage layer. The histological character, including the presence or absence of cartilage, rather than the overall tissue thickness, was considered to be a more useful marker of functionally thickness was not related to surface deviation in form and was not correlated with age in this young adult sample. Reduced soft-tissue thickness in the anterior part of the condyle was more common in cases with lack of molar support. Dental attrition was not a useful predictor of soft-tissue thickness. Compact bone contour correlated with soft-tissue contour in the superior (r = 0.816) and posterior (r = 0.808) sectors, explaining only 64% of the variance, but not in the anterior sector (r = 0.265). Thicker or thinner articular soft tissue was not predictable by the underlying compact bone contour or thickness. Therefore, the clinician should not automatically assume that the radiographic osseous image represents the actual articular surface.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Distribution and histologic character of osseous concavities in mandibular condyles of young adults.

Osseous concavities at the bone--articular soft-tissue interface were identified in 23% of 53 young adult TMJ condyles, with most occurring in the superior sector of the lateral and central aspects. All were filled with articular soft tissue, which provided a smooth articular surface without any evidence of surface breakdown. By extrapolation, radiographic evidence of osseous concavities in this age group should not be interpreted as evidence of articular surface breakdown (arthrosis). The long-term outcome of these concavities cannot be determined from this histologic cross-sectional study. However, the results support initial conservative therapy with monitoring over time.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Relationship of condylar bone profiles and dental factors to articular soft-tissue thickness.

The relationship between articular soft-tissue thickness and condylar bone profiles, compact bone thickness, and deviation in form was studied in central sagittal sections from 53 human temporomandibular joints. Because of the absence of normal standards, several definitions of thickness were used. The angular bone profiles had a higher probability of having thicker soft tissue in the superior sector (59%) than the other profiles. An ANOVA to test for soft-tissue thickness differences between profiles approached significance for the angular profile in the superior sector (P = 0.049). Neither compact bone thickness nor deviation in form had an observable relationship with articular soft-tissue thickness, probably because of the dynamic state of the articular tissues in young adult temporomandibular joints. The distribution of categories of articular soft-tissue thickness was not related to dental attrition; however, there was some skewing toward reduced soft-tissue thickness in the anterior sector in the group with loss of molar support.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Guidelines for the treatment of temporomandibular disorders.

These guidelines include the usual and customary treatment approaches recommended for each of the diagnostic categories described in a previous article on the examination and diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders. The current article describes when it is appropriate to use initial therapy, behavior modification therapy, pharmacotherapy, occlusal appliances, physical therapy, and surgical treatment for temporomandibular disorders. The physical therapy procedures described include various exercises as well as pain-relief techniques such as vapocoolant spray, massage, electrical stimulation of muscles and nerves, ultrasound, and trigger-point injections. Pharmacotherapy using muscle relaxant, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, tricyclic antidepressant, and narcotic pain medications are also discussed. Occlusal stabilization and repositioning appliances are reviewed as well. Finally, the broad indications for arthroscopic surgery, open surgery, and steroid injections are described.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

Temporomandibular joint comparative imaging: diagnostic efficacy of arthroscopy compared to tomography and arthrography.

This comparative imaging study of the TMJ was conducted to examine the diagnostic data obtained from arthroscopy as compared to data from tomography and arthrography. Six joints from cadaver material were imaged by each technique and subsequently dissected. Each technique had value, but none was comprehensive. Tomography was the technique of choice for imaging osseous changes. Double joint space arthrotomography was useful for examining articular disk position and morphology. Diagnostic arthroscopy, through direct visualization of surface morphology, showed localized surface pathosis, such as synovitis; provided data on the location and size of disk perforations; and contributed reliably to a diagnosis of disk displacement on the basis of associated pathosis such as stretching of the posterior attachment.

Arthrography↗
PubMed1989

Dentists' ability to detect psychological problems in patients with temporomandibular disorders and chronic pain.

Do patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) have significant psychosocial problems? Research efforts have sought to determine if these problems exist, and if so, how they influence treatment outcome. Even when psychosocial factors do influence treatment outcome, identifying them by formal psychological tests can be time consuming and costly. Dentists' impressions of the psychological status of these patients were tested to determine if they are an effective method for screening psychological factors thought to influence treatment outcome. The results suggested that a screening procedure based on dentists' impressions from an initial examination do not adequately identify psychological problems in patients with TMD.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Guidelines for the examination and diagnosis of temporomandibular disorders.

These guidelines propose performance criteria for the history and examination of patients with temporomandibular (TM) disorders. Pertinent diagnostic subcategories are identified, and the comprehensive history and review of systems are described. The examination procedures include documentation of temporomandibular and craniocervical range of motion, TM joint sounds, and the recording of muscle and joint tenderness. The TM disorders addressed include muscle problems such as myalgia, protective splinting or trismus, spasm, myositis, dyskinesia, muscle contracture, hypertrophy, and bruxism. Temporomandibular joint disorders addressed include disk-condyle incoordination, restricted condyle translation, open condyle dislocation, arthralgia, osteoarthritis, polyarthritis, and traumatic joint injury. Disorders of mandibular mobility such as ankylosis, adhesions, fibrosis, skeletal obstruction, and hypermobility are also described. Finally, disorders of maxillomandibular growth, including masticatory muscle hypertrophy, atrophy, neoplasia, maxillomandibular hypoplasia, condylar agenesis, maxillomandibular hyperplasia, and condyle hypertrophy are described.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

Association of occlusal variables among refined TM patient diagnostic groups.

One hundred ninety-six TMJ patients differentiated into five diagnostic groups (disk displacement with reduction [n = 40], disk displacement without reduction [n = 14], TMJ osteoarthrosis with a history of past locking [n = 32], TMJ osteoarthrosis without a history of past locking [n = 30], myalgia only [n = 80]) were compared with 222 nonpatient controls for specific occlusal variables. The patient groups could not be differentiated according to the absence of RCP-ICP slide per se, crossbite, or symmetry of RCP contacts. Among males with reducing disk displacement, Class I was less common and Class II division 1 was more common than in controls. Asymmetric RCP-ICP slides and a combination of unilateral RCP contact and no clinically visible RCP-ICP slide were more prevalent in women with reducing disk displacement. Large RCP-ICP slides, asymmetric slides, and anterior open bite were associated with osteoarthrosis, but this study could not state if these associations were etiologic or secondary. Totally asymptomatic controls were characterized by a lack of anterior open bite, small symmetric RCP-ICP slides (greater than 0 less than 1 mm), and bilateral occlusal contact in RCP. By comparing a control group to well-defined patient diagnostic groups rather than according to symptoms, selective occlusal variables appear more closely associated with some TMJ disorders than indicated in past studies with less specific populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Temporomandibular disorders. Part I: Functional status, dentomorphologic features, and sex differences in a nonpatient population.

Freshman dental and dental hygiene students, 120 men and 102 women (mean age 23.9 years), were assessed for the presence of masticatory pain or dysfunction by questionnaire, clinical examination, and evaluation of dental casts according to strict criteria. The purpose was to identify and analyze the level of signs and symptoms in a nonpatient population and describe occlusal variation. The prevalence of TMJ signs and symptoms was notable even though two thirds reported only mild or early symptoms, with only 3% reporting severe symptoms. This population was noted for the absence of locking, the low frequency of severe pain or severe TMJ dysfunction, and the low prevalence of restricted ranges of mandibular movement and TMJ crepitation. Women showed significantly more headache, TMJ clicking and tenderness, and muscle tenderness than men. Men were noted for the absence of severe and widespread muscle tenderness and severe TMJ tenderness. TMJ clicking was not always clinically confirmable in subjects with widespread muscle tenderness. This group was considered compatible with previous epidemiologic findings, and also matches the age range of most subjects seeking treatment for TMJ disorders. Therefore, the subjects in the study were considered a representative group of young adults and suitable for study of the possible associations between early signs of TMJ disorders and variables of morphologic malocclusion, which are discussed in Parts II and III of this article.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Temporomandibular disorders. Part III: Occlusal and articular factors associated with muscle tenderness.

Two complete classes of freshman dental and dental hygiene students, 120 men and 102 women (mean age 23.9 years), were assessed for the presence of masticatory pain or dysfunction by questionnaire, clinical examination, and evaluation of dental casts. The purpose of these examinations was to determine potential relationships between clinical muscle tenderness, occlusal relationships, and signs of TMJ dysfunction. Awareness of muscle tenderness increased with the number of muscle sites involved (p less than or equal to .025) but 80% of clinically tender subjects were unaware of any tenderness (p less than or equal to .01). In comparison, subjects with generalized clinical muscle tenderness more often reported TMJ clicking that was not verified at the time of clinical examination (p less than or equal to .001). Occlusal factors, except in highly selective categories, were not associated with muscle tenderness. All subjects with moderate or severe TMJ tenderness had clinically tender muscle sites, whereas subjects with generalized muscle tenderness (greater than or equal to 4 sites) had more severe TMJ tenderness (p less than or equal to .01). Subjects with localized (p less than .05) or generalized muscle tenderness (p less than .05) had more TMJ clicking than those without muscle tenderness. TMJ clicking was reported more commonly than muscle pain among subjects who were clinically determined to have both muscle tenderness and TMJ clicking (p less than or equal to .001). TMJ dysfunction was verified more often in subjects with more localized muscle tenderness (p less than or equal to .025). Although occlusal factors were not good predictors of muscle tenderness, intracapsular signs of TMJ disorders and muscle tenderness were often associated.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Temporomandibular disorders. Part II: Occlusal factors associated with temporomandibular joint tenderness and dysfunction.

Two complete classes of freshman dental and dental hygiene students, 120 men and 102 women (mean age 23.9 years) were assessed for the presence of masticatory pain or dysfunction by questionnaire, clinical examination, and evaluation of dental casts according to strict criteria. The purpose was to identify the degree of association between observable signs of TMJ disorders and selected combinations of occlusal variables. TMJ tenderness was more frequent in class II, division 2 than in class I (p less than .05), but overall was not associated with occlusal factors such as deep overbites, length of a symmetric RCP-ICP slide, and unilateral contact in RCP. Overall, clicking was not associated with Angle class, deep overbite, length of symmetric RCP-ICP slide, or unilateral RCP contact. Among subjects with unilateral RCP contact, those with no clinically obvious RCP-ICP slide (p less than .005) and those with asymmetric slides (p less than .05) had more TMJ clicking than subjects with symmetric slides. Luxation clicking of the condyle over the articular eminence on wide opening was absent in class II, division 2 subjects, but was most frequent in subjects with some teeth in unilateral posterior crossbite, particularly when this was a unilateral condition (p less than .001). Certain occlusomorphologic conditions may require less adaptation in the TMJs. This article indicates that an ICP anterior to the RCP in association with bilateral occlusal stability may be protective.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

History factors associated with symptoms of temporomandibular disorders.

Differences in prevalence of head or neck trauma, orthodontic treatment and molar oral surgery procedures reported by individuals were compared among patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and with two comparison groups (a sample of asymptomatic individuals, and a sample with mild or early signs). Association to specific TMD symptoms was tested amongst the comparison groups. Trauma was the most significant factor characterizing TMD patients. History of trauma was also more common among those otherwise normal but symptomatic individuals in the non-patient comparison group. Specific TMD symptoms were significantly associated with history of trauma in the comparison group. Significantly more women TMD patients had a history of orthodontic and molar oral surgery treatment than the asymptomatic comparison group. History of orthodontics was also associated with the symptomatic sample of the comparison group in women, but it was not significantly related to any specific TMD symptoms. Symptomatic members of the comparison group could not be differentiated based upon history of molar oral surgery. Certain risk factors may have been delineated, but causal relationship of treatment requires study of co-existing and predisposing behavioural and structural factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

The prevalence of dental attrition and its association with factors of age, gender, occlusion, and TMJ symptomatology.

Dental attrition severity in 222 young adults was assessed from dental casts as the sum of the most severe facet in each arch segment. The attrition scores were compared by age, gender, bruxism awareness, prior bite adjustment, orthodontic class, maxillomandibular relationship, and temporomandibular dysfunction symptoms. Awareness of bruxism was not associated with the wear scores and should not be used to define bruxist groups. Attrition scores did not differ significantly between age groups, indicating that notable attrition, when present, often occurs early. Men had higher attrition scores than women (p less than 0.01), despite fewer signs and symptoms. Dental attrition was not associated with the presence or absence of TMJ clicking, TMJ tenderness, or masticatory muscle tenderness. Class II division 2 males had laterotrusive attrition scores lower than those of Class III (p less than 0.05). Class III females had lower incisor attrition scores than did other Angle Classes (p less than 0.05). Discernible dental attrition in a non-patient population was not associated with signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders, nor with the occlusal factors studied. These results are compatible with the findings in other studies that point to bruxism as a centrally induced phenomenon common to all people and unrelated to local factors.

Adult↗