Biomedical subjects

T Haraldson

Publications and source records attributed to T Haraldson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

Potential side effects of dental amalgam restorations. (I). An oral and medical investigation.

The aim of this study was to explore a possible association between health status and self-reported adverse effects related to dental amalgam restorations. A group of 50 consecutive patients (index group), referred for complaints self-related to dental amalgam restorations, was compared with a control group of individuals matched by age, sex and postal zip code. The patients underwent an oral, stomatognathic, medical and clinical chemistry examination. Mercury levels were examined in blood, urine and hair. The results revealed that somatic diseases were more common in the index group (38% versus 6%). Symptoms related to cranio-mandibular dysfunction were reported by 74% of the patients in the index group versus 24% in the control group, and were diagnosed in 62% and 36%, respectively. The oral health status and the number of amalgam surfaces were similar in the 2 groups. No positive skin patch test to mercury was found in any of the groups. The estimated mercury intake from fish consumption, occupational exposure, and mercury levels in blood and urine were also similar and far below levels, where negative health effects would be expected. The correlation between the number of amalgam surfaces and mercury levels in plasma and urine (r=0.43) indicated a release of mercury from dental amalgam restorations in both groups. Since the mercury levels were similar among index patients and controls, mercury was not a likely cause of the impaired health reported by the patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Potential side effects of dental amalgam restorations. (II). No relation between mercury levels in the body and mental disorders.

A group of 50 consecutive patients, referred for self-reported complaints which they related to dental amalgam restorations, was compared with control patients matched by age, sex and postal zip code. All patients were subjected to a psychiatric examination and a set of rating scales and questionnaires, and the symptoms were related to the mercury levels in blood, urine and hair. A psychiatric diagnosis was established in 70% of the patients in the index group versus 14% in the control group. The prevailing symptoms were anxiety, asthenia and depression. Mercury levels in blood, urine and hair were similar among index cases and controls, and were far below critical levels of mercury intoxication. There was no correlation between mercury levels and the severity of the reported symptoms. Therefore, mercury was not a likely cause of the complaints. Instead, the reported symptoms were part of a broad spectrum of mental disorders.

Affect↗

PubMed1996

Radiographic morphology in the temporomandibular joint after diskectomy.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the radiographic appearance in the temporomandibular joint after diskectomy in patients refractory to conservative treatment. The diskectomies were performed in patients in which the common diagnosis were internal derangement or symptoms of osteoarthrosis. Postoperative radiographs were taken in 25 patients after 1-17 yrs and compared with the preoperative from both the operated and the nonoperated joints. Moderate to severe osteoarthrotic changes were found on the operated side in all but two patients in contrast to on the nonoperated side where such changes were absent in all patients except in one who had minor to moderate changes. The radiographic examinations showed flattening of the condylar head but also irregularities and bone apposition. In almost all patients the fossa showed a sclerotic surface, flattening but only occasionally bone apposition and irregularities. Sclerotic changes were found in about 50% of the patients but erosions only rarely. Similar postsurgical changes were also seen on the articular eminence. A reduced joint space was seen in 18 patients. The postsurgical radiographic changes are the normal out come of diskectomy and do not have clinical significance even though they resemble degenerative joint disease.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Craniofacial morphology, occlusal traits, and bite force in persons with advanced occlusal tooth wear.

The aim of this study was to investigate the dentofacial structure, the occlusal traits, and the bite force in subjects with advanced occlusal wear. The material comprised 54 adults, 30 men (mean = 40 years, range 16 to 61) and 24 women (mean = 28 years, range 18 to 47), most of whom had a full or near-full complement of natural teeth, and the presence of occlusal wear. Craniofacial structure was studied on lateral cephalograms. Occlusal traits were examined on study casts, these serving also for an evaluation of occlusal wear to be carried out by using an ordinal scale. Bite forces were recorded at differing force levels (maximum biting, "biting as when chewing" and "light biting") and occlusal positions. Although maximum bite force and endurance time did not differ significantly between men and women, the level of bite force was high compared with other samples. The craniofacial structure of the sample was characterized by a deviation in the vertical direction, a small angle between the mandibular-palatal planes and a small gonial angle, as compared with Swedish adult norms. No significant differences were found in anteroposterior relationships between persons with advanced wear and normal standards. The results support the hypothesis that functional hyperactivity of the masticatory system imposed increased stress on the bony structures of the craniofacial complex with possible influences on its structure.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Evaluation of TMJ surgery in cases not responding to conservative treatment.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the treatment outcome after temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgery, which was performed in 33 patients (27 women and six men) between 1970 and 1986. Before surgery, the patients received different types of conservative treatment for an average time of 29 months. The most common diagnosis was anterior disk displacement (ADD) with or without reduction (n = 10), followed by unspecified arthralgia (n = 8), osteoarthrosis (n = 7) and ankylosis (n = 4). Standardized clinical records served as the basis for comparison of symptomatology at comparable time points. Furthermore, 31 of the 33 patients were subjected to a clinical follow-up, including anamnestic, clinical, radiological and cast analysis, 2-17 years after operation. Pain, sleeping problems and consumption of analgesics were significantly reduced after surgery. The anamnestic, as well as the clinical dysfunction indices, according to Helkimo, were also significantly reduced. TMJ clicking was reduced, but crepitations increased in number. The best improvements were seen in patients with ADD without reduction and in patients with ankylosis.

Ankylosis↗

PubMed1995

Functional evaluation after TMJ surgery.

Oral function was evaluated in 30 patients (25 women and five men) after TMJ surgery by means of bite force measurements. Twenty-seven discectomies and three condylectomies had been performed. The follow-up period was, on average, 2.5 years. The mean bite force values on the function level 'biting as when chewing' was for the whole group 125.3 N on the right side and 128.8 N on the left side. The maximal bite force was on average 362.5 N and maximal endurance time on average 32 s. All test results showed big ranges. No significant differences between right and left side or operated and non-operated side could be found on the tested function level 'biting as when chewing'. The found bite force values were high in comparison with another similar study. The results were also compared with another group of patients (n = 6) who were examined before and 6 months after surgery. As far as bite force reflects oral function the results are indeed very encouraging.

Bite Force↗

PubMed1993

A system for assessing the severity and progression of occlusal tooth wear.

This study represents an attempt to introduce a system for the longitudinal evaluation of the severity and the rate of progression of tooth wear. The material comprised a selected group of 10 males and 10 females, examined twice within an 18-month period. The subjects were predisposed to advanced occlusal wear and had a mean age of 32 years within the range of 16-56 years. Evaluation of occlusal wear was performed on a tooth-by-tooth basis, on study casts, using two ordinal scales, one for assessing the severity, and the other the progression of occlusal wear. The reliability of the scales was assessed by percentage inter-observer concordances. The sample exhibited higher occlusal wear scores in the incisor and canine regions compared to the posterior region. It was found that the overall progression in an 18-month follow-up period was slow. The inter-observer concordance in the evaluation of the severity of wear was 88%, and 91% in the progression of wear. Within the limitations of the described system, the scales may be utilized for determining the severity of occlusal wear and the rate of its deterioration in an individual's dentition. From a clinical standpoint, the need for future treatment may be based on such a evaluation of the progression of wear.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Comparison of the prevalence, severity and possible causes of occlusal tooth wear in two young adult populations.

Most reports of the prevalence and severity of tooth wear in contemporary Western populations claim that advanced wear in uncommon by comparison with certain non-Western populations. Differing methods of wear evaluation in the various studies, however, preclude accurate comparisons from being made. This study records mean total and segmental wear indices obtained from the casts of a selected Swedish patient population sample, and age- and sex-matched Saudi high-wear and random samples. The wear experience of the Saudi random sample compared favourably with that of the Swedish selected one, while the wear of the Saudi high-wear sample was significantly higher than that of the Swedish sample (P < 0.01). The findings from a questionnaire revealed certain significant correlations between aetiological factors and wear, most notably, the relatively greater presence of bruxism (P < 0.01), absence of biting habits and minimal cola consumption (P < 0.01) in the Swedish sample. Harsh environmental and climatic conditions probably account for the Saudi experience of high wear.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Covariation of some factors associated with occlusal tooth wear in a selected high-wear sample.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the significance of some factors associated with occlusal tooth wear in a selected high-wear Swedish sample. The material comprised 59 subjects having a mean age of 35 yr within the range 16-70 yr, the criteria for selection being a full or nearly full complement of natural teeth, and the presence of definite clinical signs of occlusal wear. A dentition wear index was derived from a tooth-by-tooth evaluation of casts. The results showed that men had significantly greater wear than women. Other factors which were found to correlate significantly with increased occlusal wear were: age, increased bite force, decreased occlusal tactile sensitivity, increased endurance time, and reduced tendency for crowding in the dental arches. In the salivary analysis, it was found that low buffer capacity and low rate of secretion were significantly correlated with high wear. Cephalometric variables shown to be correlated with increased wear were retroclination and position of maxillary incisors, and greater interincisal angle. The results from this study also suggest that the associations of attrition with certain dentoalveolar morphologic features are similar in the present contemporary sample and various noncontemporary populations.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

An investigation of some factors associated with occlusal tooth wear in a selected high-wear sample.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of some factors associated with occlusal tooth wear in a selected high-wear Swedish sample. The material comprised 59 persons having a mean age of 35 yr within the range 16-70 yr, the criteria for selection being a full or near-full complement of natural teeth, and the presence of definite clinical signs of occlusal wear. A dentition wear index, in addition to anterior, posterior, and arch subindices, was derived from a tooth-by-tooth evaluation of casts. Factors which were found to correlate significantly with increased occlusal wear were age, sex, self-perception of wear, number of teeth, and general health, as well as a number of variables from study-cast analysis. On the basis of the findings, not only is the multifactorial etiology of occlusal tooth wear a reality, but so, too, is the complex interdependence of these factors in the severity of wear.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Speech before and after treatment with bridges on osseointegrated implants in the edentulous upper jaw.

Speech may be affected by the transition from complete dentures to fixed prosthesis on osseointegrated implants (OIB). If so, is there any correlation between interdental spaces (open or closed) in the prosthodontic construction and deteriorated speech? 21 individuals advocated for maxillary OIB were randomised so that one half of the group got constructions with wide interdental spaces and the other half with minimised interdental spaces. All patients were examined audiologically and their speech was individually tape-recorded before and after treatment. Perceptual, acoustic, model and audiological analyses were made. Approximately 60% of the patients were judged to have indistinct speech after the treatment. The s-sound was perceptually and acoustically distorted. 67% of the patients suffered from hearing defects. No correlation between interdental spaces (open or closed) and deteriorated speech could be found. It is supposed, that hearing plays a part in the effort to adjust speech to a new maxillary OIB, and thus reduced hearing can enhance speech difficulties.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Speech in connection with maxillary fixed prostheses on osseointegrated implants: a three-year follow-up study.

In 21 individuals, edentulous in the upper jaw, the speech function was evaluated. In an earlier study, registrations were made when the patients wore complete dentures in the upper jaw and 3-6 months after they had been treated with fixed prostheses on osseointegrated implants in the maxilla. These patients were re-examined after 3 years, as reported in this follow-up study. An expert group as well as a non-expert group participated in a perceptual analysis. Acoustic, audiological and cast analyses were performed. In addition, a questionnaire was filled in. The results indicated that, after initial phonetic problems, 94% of the individuals considered themselves free from speech problems at the 3-year follow-up. The patients' experience of the change of the s-sound corresponded well with the judgement of both the expert and the non-expert groups. Difficulties with pronouncing the s-sound were associated with decreased bite force, the number of occluding contacts, the frontal width of the fixed prosthesis and tenderness at palpation of the masticatory muscles. These oral functional factors will contribute to the s-sound production.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Oral function in patients wearing fixed prosthesis on osseointegrated implants in the maxilla: 3-year follow-up study.

Seventeen consecutive selected patients rehabilitated by means of a full maxillary bridge on osseointegrated implants ad modern Brånemark were evaluated over a 3-yr period. Besides a subjective evaluation by means of a questionnaire an examination of the occlusal relationship, chewing force, chewing efficiency and interocclusal threshold level was performed before, immediately after, 3-6 months after, and finally 3 yr after bridge installation. All subjects were very pleased with the oral rehabilitation. The chewing force and the chewing efficiency development increased over time, while the threshold level for interocclusal detection remained unchanged. The clinical dysfunction index according to Helkimo indicated that there was no marked change in signs of dysfunction of the patients' masticatory systems during the observation period. From the present longitudinal investigation one can conclude that the replacement of a full maxillary denture with a fixed prosthesis on osseointegrated implants, facing a natural dentition or an osseointegrated implant supported bridge in the opposite jaw, leads to a progressive increase of chewing efficiency and chewing force, and a constant subjective improvement of jaw function, while no masticatory dysfunction seems to occur during the observation period.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Evaluation of masticatory function before and after treatment in patients with craniomandibular disorders.

The masticatory function was evaluated in 12 patients with signs and symptoms of craniomandibular disorders of mainly muscular origin. Palpation of the masticatory muscles and measurements of occlusal force endurance, on a submaximal level with visual feedback, and of masticatory efficiency were performed before and after treatment. Significant changes occurred between the two measurements. Of a total of 10 masticatory muscles, 8 were sensitive to palpation before treatment and 2 after treatment. Occlusal force endurance increased from 92.5 seconds before treatment to 132 seconds after treatment, and masticatory efficiency increased from 54% to 65%, respectively. It is concluded that the masticatory muscle function of these patients is compromised and that treatment had a positive effect on the masticatory function.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Acupuncture in treatment of facial muscular pain.

Forty-five individuals with long-standing facial pain or headache of muscular origin were randomly allocated into three groups. The first group was treated with acupuncture, the second group received an occlusal splint, and the third group served as controls. Both acupuncture and occlusal splint therapy significantly reduced subjective symptoms and clinical signs from the stomatognathic system. No differences between these two groups were found with regard to treatment effects. It is concluded that acupuncture is an alternative method to conventional stomatognathic treatment for individuals with craniomandibular disorders of muscular origin.

Acupuncture Analgesia↗

PubMed1990

Oral function in patients wearing fixed prosthesis on osseointegrated implants in the maxilla.

Bite force, chewing efficiency and tactile sensibility were investigated in 21 subjects with OIB (Osseointegrated Implant bridges) in the maxilla or in both jaws. Recordings were performed before treatment, approximately 1 wk and finally 3-6 months after treatment. The bite force was recorded in the incisor, canine, and premolar areas and was tested at gentle biting, biting as when chewing, and maximal biting. In the chewing tests the chewing time, the chewing velocity, the time to swallowing, and the Ci (Chewing Efficiency Index) were calculated. The occlusal thickness perception was tested in the front with a 12.8 x 10(-3) mm thick plastic foil. The maximal bite force was more than doubled, the Ci improved about one index unit, and the occlusal thickness perception improved from on average 57.5 x 10(-3) mm to 18.7 x 10(-3) mm during the observation time. It is concluded that treatment with upper OIB has a very positive impact on oral function as reflected by improved bite force, chewing efficiency, and occlusal thickness perception.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Macroscopic, microscopic and radiologic assessment of the condylar part of the TMJ in elderly subjects. An autopsy study.

Thirty-seven temporomandibular joints were examined in an autopsy study. The sizes and forms of the condyles were found to be in good agreement with earlier presented results. Structural changes were found in 16 condyles (38%) in the macroscopic examination, while radiographically diagnosed erosions were found in 8 (21%). Twenty-two (59%) of the discs examined had either perforations, roughness or attenuations. Anterior disc position was found in 3 discs, and always in combination with a perforation of the disc.

Aged↗

PubMed1989

Immediate electromyographic response in masseter and temporal muscles to bite plates and stabilization splints.

The immediate influence on masticatory muscle activity of bite plates and stabilization splints was investigated in control subjects and patients with craniomandibular disorders. Electromyographic surface recordings were performed from the masseter and temporal muscles bilaterally with and without the appliances in situ. In the rest position, no significant change in average activity was registered in any muscle with either appliance. Activity during maximal biting on stabilization splints was not different from that without the appliance while bite plates caused a decrease in activity in both muscles in both groups. The reduced maximal activity was probably due to the smaller number and exclusively anterior positioned occlusal contacts on the bite plate.

Adult↗