The results of this study suggest that tongue function is gender- and age-dependent and follows the same trends as hand function. Tongue strength is decreased in older individuals and females, while tongue endurance is gender- and age-independent.

Objectives Pain-related Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are the most prevalent conditions among TMDs. There is contrasting evidence available for association of pain-related TMD and masticatory muscle activity (MMA). The present investigation assesses the associations between MMA levels of masseter and temporalis muscles during awake and sleep among pain-related TMD diagnostic groups. Setting and Sample Population The department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, University at Buffalo. Twenty females and 6 males participated in this study. Material & Methods Using the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC-TMD), participants were diagnostically categorized. Subjects used a custom monitoring system, which recorded in–field muscle activities. A factorial model tested for association between independent variable (muscle, time period, MMA level, diagnostic group) effects and the logarithm of MMA. Greenhouse–Geisser test was used to determine any statistically significant associations (p ≤ 0.003). Results No statistically significant association was found among four-way, three-way, and two-way analyses. However, among the main effects, range of magnitudes was the only variable to be statistically significant. Although the data suggest a trend of increased masseter MMA in the pain-related TMD diagnoses group both during awake and sleep time periods, such observation is not maintained for the temporalis muscle. In addition, temporalis MMA was found to be higher in the pain-related TMD diagnoses group only at extreme activity levels (<25% and ≥80% ranges). Conclusion This data support the association between masticatory muscle hyperactivity and painful-TMD conditions.

Morphological condylar abnormalities are present on panoramic images in all adult age ranges, regardless of status of the dentition or presence of TMD. Condylar shape alone is not an indicator of TMD, and minor condylar discrepancies may have no significance in TMD.

Background The term “oral parafunctional behaviors” encompasses behaviors that are different from those required for, or associated with, physiological functional needs such as mastication, communication, swallowing, or breathing. Previous reports have associated waking-state oral parafunctional behaviors with biopsychosocial characteristics, such as, female gender, presence of psychological symptoms, intensity of pain, and pain-related Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) diagnosis. However, the findings have been inconsistent, possibly due to methodological limitations and differences. Objectives In the present investigation, we aim to determine if any association is present between waking-state oral parafunctional behaviors and biopsychosocial characteristics. Methods All participants were investigated using a set of standardized and validated self-reporting questionnaires and diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (DC/TMD) examination protocol for clinical characterization. Results and Conclusion Univariate analysis found that self-reported waking-state oral parafunctional behaviors were statistically significantly associated with presence of anxiety, depression, and physical symptoms, pain intensity, and TMD diagnosis. However, forward model multiple linear regression analysis indicated that only self-reported presence of physical and depression symptoms could explain statistically significant portions of the variance in self-reported waking-state oral parafunctional behaviors.

Increasingly, U.S. dental schools report pass/fail grades and do not rank students. In addition, the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations will report National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) scores as pass/fail after January 1, 2012. This article discusses how these changes will force postdoctoral dental program directors to modify how they assess candidates and how noncognitive evaluations might enhance those assessments. The authors propose developing a national qualifying examination for postdoctoral dental programs that will measure knowledge, decision making, and noncognitive traits including empathy, self-conidence, integrity, and emotional intelligence. Without NBDE scores, class rank, and GPA as a basis for decision making, a single national qualifying examination would assist postdoctoral programs in selecting high-quality candidates based on knowledge, critical thinking skills, and noncognitive traits.