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Biomedical subjects

M H Steenks

Publications and source records attributed to M H Steenks.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

No effect of experimental occlusal interferences on pressure pain thresholds of the masseter and temporalis muscles in healthy women.

It has been suggested that occlusal interferences may lead to pain and tenderness of the masticatory muscles. Tender jaw muscles are more sensitive to pressure pain, as assessed by means of pressure algometry. We tested the effects of occlusal interferences on the pressure pain threshold of the jaw muscles by means of a double-blind randomized crossover experiment carried out on 11 young healthy females. Golden strips were glued either to an occlusal contact area (active interference) or to the vestibular surface of the same tooth (dummy interference) and left for 8 d each. Pressure pain thresholds of the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles were assessed under interference-free, dummy-interference and active-interference conditions. The results indicated that the application of an active occlusal interference, as used in this study, did not influence significantly the pressure pain thresholds of these muscles in healthy individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Jaw position in stabilization splint treatment of musculoskeletal disorders].

Stabilization splints are often used to treat musculoskeletal disorders of temporomandibular joints. Historically, the centric relation is advocated as the reference position for a stabilization splint. Centric relation as the reference position is subject of discussion, since this position has been defined for a healthy stomatognathic system. In case of temporomandibular disorders, the temporomandibular joints and muscles are compromised. Apart from degenerative changes in all components of the temporomandibular joints, the presence of pain may influence the establishment of a therapeutic position. In this article the biological plausibility of the centric relation as a reference position in patients suffering from temporomandibular disorders, is discussed. It is advocated to maintain the existing occlusion.

Cartilage, Articular↗
PubMed2005

[A clinical protocol for stabilization splint construction].

Occlusal appliances are used as a reversible treatment modality of temporomandibular disorders. This article describes a protocol to produce a stabilization splint with a minimum of chair time, and an improved compliance, aiming at an overall improvement of the therapeutic potential. Maintaining the existing occlusion in stead of using centric relation is part of the procedure. The main phases of the protocol are the initial clinical phase of impressions and recording treatment position of the mandible, the technical phase, the control phase, and the insertion of the appliance.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

The diagnostic value of pressure algometry in myofascial pain of the jaw muscles.

Recent evidence suggests that evaluation of muscle tenderness in temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) patients might be improved by the use of pressure algometry; nevertheless, the evaluation of the diagnostic value of this tool has received little attention. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of pressure algometry in myofascial pain of the jaw muscles, by calculation of sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) and positive predictive values (PPV). Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) of masseter and anterior temporalis muscles were assessed in 40 female myogenous TMD patients and 40 age-matched female controls. PPTs were significantly lower (P<0.001) in TMD patients than in control subjects for both masseter and temporalis muscles, being 40-50% of the control values. Setting a cutoff value 1 s.d. below the mean PPT values of control subject, sensitivity and specificity were 0.67 and 0.85, respectively, for the masseter muscle and 0.77 and 0.87, respectively, for the temporalis muscle. When taking into account the prevalences of myofascial pain in the general population and in TMD clinics, the PPV ranged from 0.5 to 0.7. As a result of the low PPV, pressure algometry has strong limitations when used as a solitary diagnostic tool.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Botulinum toxin type A treatment of cosmetically disturbing masseteric hypertrophy].

Two patients, a woman aged 21 and a man aged 29, with asymmetrical swellings of both mandibular angles and a painful, heavy sensation in the masticatory muscles (and in the woman also round the maxillary joint), were diagnosed as having hypertrophy of the masseter muscles. Both had the habit of jaw clenching and tooth grinding. Treatment consisted not of the traditional surgical debulking which also allows correction of overdeveloped osseous mandibular angles, but of injections with botulinum toxin type A. Injection of 40-60 IU (product: Botox) per muscle was followed by some atrophy; cosmetically satisfactory results were achieved after repetition of the treatment a few months later. Reduction of muscle volume was confirmed by a quantitative volumetric assessment of MRI scans. In the female patient, the pain also abated.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Functional unilateral posterior crossbite. Orthodontic and functional aspects.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of early orthodontic treatment of functional unilateral posterior crossbite (FUPC) and to evaluate temporomandibular function in the short and long term. Orthodontic treatment consisted of slow expansion of the maxillary dental arch by means of a removable expansion plate, with flat coverage of the occlusal surfaces of the left and right posterior teeth. Evaluation of the occlusion showed a strong correlation between the crossbite side and the direction of the RCP-ICP slide and with the side of first occlusal contact in RCP. In 26 of 27 children that were treated (one withdrew), the average time required for correction of the crossbite was 7 months, followed by a retention period, on average, for 6 months after completion of treatment. Early orthodontic treatment resulted in an elimination of occlusal disturbances, and the crossbite remained stable on follow-up during an average of 8 years after the retention period, except in two children with a class III tendency. In nine other children an orthodontic anomaly had developed requiring further treatment (two children showed crowding and seven children showed a class II malocclusion). This study showed that FUPC can be treated adequately by early orthodontic intervention; however, its correction does not guarantee the absence of functional disturbances at a later age. Therefore, FUPC should be treated early in order to achieve normal growth and development rather than to prevent temporomandibular disorders.

Child↗
PubMed1996

Temporomandibular and cervical spine disorders. Self-reported signs and symptoms.

STUDY DESIGN: The authors assessed the results of an anamnestic self-administered questionnaire given to 111 patients with temporomandibular disorders and 103 patients with cervical spine disorders. OBJECTIVES: The present study was performed to investigate whether patients with cervical spine disorders and subgroups of patients with temporomandibular disorders differ regarding specific and accompanying signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders and cervical spine disorders. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Patients with temporomandibular disorders frequently show signs and symptoms related to cervical spine disorders, and, vice versa, patients with cervical spine disorders may show signs and symptoms related to temporomandibular disorders. Many authors have pointed out the existence of neuroanatomical and biomechanical relationships. METHODS: The questionnaire included questions about pain, symptoms of temporomandibular disorders, accompanying signs and symptoms, psychosocial factors, and general health. Before their clinical examination, all patients were requested by mail to complete the questionnaire. RESULTS: Patients with cervical spine disorders reported fewer symptoms of temporomandibular disorders than the subgroups of patients with temporomandibular disorders, more general health symptoms than patients with temporomandibular disorders with an arthrogenous or myogenous component, and fewer ear symptoms than patients with temporomandibular disorders. There was no difference between the patient groups regarding other associated signs and symptoms and psychosocial factors as measured with the questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses showed that six variables (jaws, ears, eyes, temporomandibular joint sounds, complaints of the shoulders, and pain in joints other than the temporomandibular joint) correctly classified 91% of the patients as having temporomandibular disorders or cervical spine disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study do not support the theoretical concept that cervical spine disorders may give rise to temporomandibular disorders. The authors' results indicate that the anamnestic questionnaire can be used as an aid to distinguish patients with cervical spine disorders from subgroups of patients with temporomandibular disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Osteochondroma of the mandibular condyle. A case report.

Osteochondroma of the mandibular condyle is extremely rare and may cause signs and symptoms like those seen in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Differentiation between osteochondroma and condylar hyperplasia is not possible on histologic grounds alone, but the radiographic and intraoperative findings together are usually sufficient to establish a definite diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Symptoms of the stomatognathic system in temporomandibular and cervical spine disorders.

This study was performed to assess the prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in patients with cervical spine disorders (CSD) and to compare patients with CSD and subgroups of patients with TMD with regard to the results of orthopaedic tests of the stomatognathic system. A group of 103 consecutive patients with signs and symptoms of CSD and a group of 111 consecutive patients with TMD were examined. All subgroups of TMD patients showed a significantly smaller range of motion than the CSD patients. Patients with TMD had limited mouth opening (< 40 mm) on active and passive mouth opening more often than CSD patients. TMD patients with myogenous problems reported oral habits more often than CSD patients, although no objective differences between CSD and TMD patients were found. Subgroups of TMD patients reported joint sounds, and pain on palpation and joint play tests of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) more frequently than CSD patients. Joint sounds on active movements, pain on palpation of the TMJ, and pain on joint play tests correctly classified 82% of the patients with TMD and 72% of the patients with CSD. In spite of the biomechanical and anatomical relationship between the neck and the stomatognathic system, the results of the study show that CSD patients have signs and symptoms of TMD comparable with those of the adult Dutch population. It was concluded that the function of the masticatory system should be evaluated in patients with neck complaints in order to rule out a possible involvement of the masticatory system.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Symptoms of the cervical spine in temporomandibular and cervical spine disorders.

This study was performed to assess the prevalence of signs and symptoms related to cervical spine disorders (CSD) in subgroups of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and to compare TMD patients and CSD patients with regard to the results of orthopaedic cervical spine tests. One hundred and eleven consecutive patients with TMD and 103 consecutive patients with signs and symptoms of CSD were examined. The results indicated that there is a considerable overlap in the signs and symptoms of patients with TMD and patients with CSD. Signs and symptoms on neck extension occurred more often in CSD patients than in subgroups of TMD patients. No significant differences in upper cervical extension, neck flexion, and shoulder girdle function were found between CSD patients and subgroups of patients with TMD. Patients with CSD reported neck pain during active and passive movements of the neck more often than the subgroups of patients with TMD. TMD patients and CSD patients did not differ with regard to pain on shoulder girdle function and palpation of the shoulder girdle. Logistic regression analyses showed that orthopaedic tests of the cervical spine are of minor importance in discriminating between patients with TMD and patients with CSD. It is concluded that TMD with a myogenous involvement in contrast to TMD with only an arthrogenous involvement should no longer be viewed as a local disorder of the stomatognathic system. The upper quarter, including the stomatognathic system, cervical spine, and shoulder girdle, should be evaluated in patients with more complex or persistent symptoms in the head and neck region.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Diagnosis and classification of temporomandibular dysfunction by the general dental practitioner].

Because of other diseases mimicking the symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD), differential diagnosis is of the utmost importance. Diagnostic subgroups of TMD (osteoarthrosis, anterior disc displacement with/without reduction, TMD-myo) can be distinguished by a combination of active movements, passive opening and palpation. Active movement appeared to be the most powerful test for distinguishing the subgroups of TMD, e.g. myogenous, arthrogenous, myogenous and arthrogenous. It is advised to have an open mind in the clinical examination and to be aware of the many mimicking disorders before reaching a diagnosis. An anamnestic questionnaire addressing the pain history, signs and symptoms of TMD, functional impairments, correlates of TMD, psychosocial evaluation and general health status is mandatory. Headache and neck pain often accompany TMD. In appropriate situations it is advised to refer to the proper specialist, before starting treatment for TMD. Orthopedic tests of the cervical spine are of minor importance in discriminating between patients with TMD and patients with cervical spine disorders (CSD). It is therefore advised to evaluate the function of the stomatognathic system in patients with neck complaints to rule out a possible involvement of this system.

Cervical Vertebrae↗
PubMed1996

[Diagnosis and treatment of myofascial pain].

Myofascial pain (MFP) is a regional muscle pain disorder characterized by localized muscle tenderness and pain and is the most common cause of persistent regional pain. MFP is frequently overlooked as a diagnosis because it is often accompanied by signs and symptoms in addition to pain, coincidental pathology conditions, and behavioral and psychosocial problems. Evaluation of myofascial pain includes locating the trigger points and muscles involved as well as recognition of these contributing factors. Management of the syndrome follows with palliative care, splint therapy, muscle exercises, therapy to the trigger points, and behavioral therapy that depends on complexity of the case. The short term goals is to restore the muscle tot normal length, posture, and full joint range of motion with exercises and trigger point therapy. The long term goals include reducing the symptoms and their negative effects while helping the patient return to normal function without need for further health care. The difficulty in managing MFP lies in the critical need to match the level of complexity of the management program with the complexity of the patient. Failure to address the entire problem through a team approach if needed, may lead to failure to resolve the pain and perpetuation of a chronic pain syndrome.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1996

[Occlusion and temporomandibular dysfunction].

The role of occlusion in the etiology of temporomandibular disorders is questionable. Therefore, preventive selective grinding is not advised. In the presence of signs and symptoms of overloading of structures of the masticatory system, grinding can be a therapy of choice. This procedure should be preceded by splint therapy in order to test the occlusal changes.

Dental Occlusion↗
PubMed1996

[Splint therapy in temporomandibular dysfunction].

In a study of 118 patients with temporomandibular dysfunction treated with occlusal splint therapy, symptoms of pain and limited mobility of the mandible had decreased more distinct than clicking sounds of the temporomandibular joints. Interestingly, an untreated control group showed similar results after two years follow-up.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Reliability of clinical findings in temporomandibular disorders.

The aim of the present investigation was to study the interexaminer reliability of orthopedic tests and palpation techniques routinely used in the clinical diagnosis of disorders of the masticatory system. The tests were performed by a dentist and a physiotherapist, who both used the tests routinely when examining patients with temporomandibular disorders. Seventy-nine patients participated in this study. In the analysis, percentage agreement, intraclass correlation, and Cohen's kappa were used. The interexaminer reliability of the tests measuring maximal active mouth opening and registration of clicking during active mouth opening was high. The interexaminer reliability was fair for the tests measuring the intensity of pain during active movements and moderate for tests recording joint sounds (kappa = 0.47 to 0.59). There was high interobserver agreement on several items of the traction and translation tests, although the kappa values were low. The interexaminer reliability of the multitest scores for compression was substantial for joint sounds (kappa = 0.66) and fair for pain (kappa = 0.40). The interexaminer reliability of the multitest scores for muscle palpation and joint palpation was moderate (kappa = 0.51) and fair (kappa = 0.33), respectively. It can be concluded that most variables determined during active movements can be measured with satisfactory reliability, whereas variables for other tests are not measured with the same reliability on the basis of the kappa scores. The main symptoms of temporomandibular disorders can be evaluated reliably with multitest scores. It is recommended that clinicians calibrate their techniques regularly to improve the reliability of results in daily practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Diagnostic subgroups of craniomandibular disorders. Part I: Self-report data and clinical findings.

An overview is given of the most commonly investigated signs and symptoms associated with craniomandibular disorders as detected in a population of patients with craniomandibular disorders and in four defined diagnostic subgroups. The information was collected with a questionnaire and during an extensive clinical examination. Comparison of self-report and clinical data indicated that these two methods reveal different aspects of the patient's complaints and should be interpreted in their own way. The results showed that no statistically significant differences could be found between the four diagnostic subgroups with respect to occlusal factors, trauma, and clinically assessed parafunctional habits. The groups differed considerably with respect to general characteristics, pain variables, signs of craniomandibular disorders, self-reported para-functional habits, psychosocial factors, and general health factors. However, despite the reduction in clinical characteristics of the four subgroups, there was little reduction in the diversity of factors associated with craniomandibular disorders. This implicates that almost all factors associated with craniomandibular disorders may influence the initiation and perpetuation of the different disorders in the individual patient, and therefore, remain of interest in future research.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Diagnostic subgroups of craniomandibular disorders. Part II: Symptom profiles.

An overview is given of the following four well-defined diagnostic subgroups of patients who have craniomandibular disorders: those with a mainly myogenous component; those with internal derangement with reduction; those with internal derangement without reduction; and those with osteoarthrosis. Although it was inevitable that the subgroups were not completely homogeneous, symptom profiles differed considerably. There even seemed to be reasons to distinguish two osteoarthrosis groups in future research. Although the identification of clinically significant factors in a given patient with craniomandibular disorders remains a difficult clinical task, the symptom profiles provide a framework that may give more insight into the background of the complaint and into possible contributing factors. The symptom profiles also provide the possibility of a more directed choice of treatment and a treatment evaluation that is more aimed at the specific characteristics of the subgroups. It therefore may be concluded that, to increase insight into craniomandibular disorders, the evaluation of diagnostic subgroups has to be preferred in the assessment of a heterogeneous group of patients with craniomandibular disorders.

Adolescent↗