BackgroundReliable implant-supported rehabilitation of an alveolar ridge needs sufficient volume of bone. In order to achieve a prosthetic-driven positioning, bone graft techniques may be required.PurposeThis prospective cohort study aims to clinically evaluate the amount of resorption of corticocancellous fresh-frozen allografts bone blocks used in the reconstruction of the severe atrophic maxilla.Materials and MethodsTwenty-two partial and totally edentulous patients underwent bone augmentation procedures with fresh-frozen allogenous blocks from the iliac crest under local anesthesia. Implants were inserted into the grafted sites after a healing period of 5 months. Final fixed prosthesis was delivered ± 4 months later. Ridge width analysis and measurements were performed with a caliper before and after grafting and at implant insertion. Bone biopsies were performed in 16 patients.ResultsA total of 98 onlay block allografts were used in 22 patients with an initial mean alveolar ridge width of 3.41 ± 1.36 mm. Early exposure of blocks was observed in four situations and one of these completely resorbed. Mean horizontal bone gain was 3.63 ± 1.28 mm (p < .01). Mean buccal bone resorption between allograph placement and the reopening stage was 0.49 ± 0.54 mm, meaning approximately 7.1% (95% confidence interval: [5.6%, 8.6%]) of total ridge width loss during the integration period. One hundred thirty dental implants were placed with good primary stability (≥ 30 Ncm). Four implants presented early failure before the prosthetic delivery (96.7% implant survival). All patients were successfully rehabilitated. Histomorphometric analysis revealed 20.9 ± 5.8% of vital bone in close contact to the remaining grafted bone. A positive strong correlation (adjusted R2 = 0.44, p = .003) was found between healing time and vital bone percentage.ConclusionsAugmentation procedures performed using fresh-frozen allografts from the iliac crest are a suitable alternative in the reconstruction of the atrophic maxilla with low resorption rate at 5 months, allowing proper stability of dental implants followed by fixed prosthetic rehabilitation.

Purpose:The Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) concept was the basis for developing a smartphone application for the on-time report of awake bruxism (AB) activities. This study aims to monitor AB report over time in a population of healthy young adults.Methods: A population of young adults recruited among dental students in good general health was recruited. All answered to a questionnaire, including the Oral Behavior Checklist (OBC-1). They were then monitored with a smartphone application for AB report during seven consecutive days and completed three further observation periods (EMA-1, 2 and 3) at one-month intervals. After the third period (EMA-3), participants answered again the OBC questionnaire (OBC-2). Changes over time were described, and Pearson Correlation test was performed to assess the correlation between EMA and OBC items reports. A significance level of p = .01 was set.Results: Thirty-one University students completed the study protocol. Answers to the OBC showed an increase in the prevalence of self-reported bracing and teeth clenching from the first to second report (38.7%-54.8% and 77.4%-90.3%, respectively). A slight increase in the 'relaxed' condition (62.5%-69.0%) was observed with EMA-based smartphone application over time. No correlation between OBC items and EMA was detected between OBC-1 and EMA-1. A moderate positive correlation in bracing report (+0.509, p = .01) and weak positive correlation in teeth contact report (+0.380, p = .05) were found between OBC-2 and EMA-3. Conclusion:Using a smartphone-based approach to AB report may be helpful to monitor AB over time and increase an individual's awareness to recognise actions such as bracing and teeth contact concerning the single-time report.

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Background: The recent introduction of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) smartphone-based strategies has allowed achieving some interesting data on the frequency of different awake bruxism (AB) behaviors reported by an individual in the natural environment. Objective: The present paper aims to review the literature on the reported frequency of AB based on data gathered via smartphone EMA technology. Methods: On September 2022, a systematic search in the Pubmed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases was performed to identify all peer-reviewed English-language studies assessing awake bruxism behaviors using a smartphone-based Ecological Momentary Assessment. The selected articles were assessed independently by two authors according to a structured reading of the articles’ format (PICO). Results: A literature search, for which the search terms “Awake Bruxism” and “Ecological Momentary Assessment” were used, identified 15 articles. Of them, eight fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The results of seven studies using the same smartphone-based app reported a frequency of AB behaviors in the range between 28.3 and 40% over one week, while another investigation adopted a different smartphone-based EMA approach via WhatsApp using a web-based survey program and reported an AB frequency of 58.6%. Most included studies were based on convenience samples with limited age range, highlighting the need for more studies on other population samples. Conclusions: Despite the methodological limits, the results of the reviewed studies provide a standpoint for comparison for future studies on the epidemiology of awake bruxism behaviors.

The paradigm about the ideal dental occlusion schemes in rehabilitation procedures has changed over time. [1][2][3] Indeed, based on suggestions that the role of dental occlusion features is less important than believed in the past in the aetiology of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), bruxism or functional impairment, very basic occlusal schemes are enough to maintain the homeostasis of the stomatognathic system. [3][4][5][6] Nonetheless, this does not mean that occlusion evaluations and adjustments should not be part of daily dental practice. Advantages and disadvantages of the conventional methods (eg, articulating Abstract Purpose: In the definition of an occlusal scheme, clinicians should choose between conventional and computerised methods based on a careful appraise of the advantages and limitations. This study aims to assess the correlation between the two approaches in a clinical setting. Methods: Twenty-four patients were included to compare different methods of occlusal contacts assessment on the posterior surfaces of flat mandibular appliances.In supine position, they were asked to clench with maximum strength, in the maximum intercuspation position with a 24 μm articulating paper positioned between the teeth and the appliance surface. An extra-oral photograph of the marks was taken (total N = 2082). They were visually classified based on a pre-defined scale (ie, conventional assessment) and with ImageJ analysis software (ie, photographic software assessment). Additionally, a computerised occlusal analysis was performed (ie, computerised assessment). Correlation analysis of the data achieved with conventional, photographic and computerised assessments was performed.Results: Correlation between conventional and computerised assessments was weak (r = .265), whilst it was moderate between conventional and photographic assessments (r = .633), as well as between photographic and computerised assessments (r = .476). Conclusions:This investigation showed a weak-to-moderate correlation between different methods (ie, conventional, photographic and computerised) to assess occlusal marks. None of the three can actually be considered the standard of reference, but based on their specific features, it can bet suggested that the conventional method may be enough for most clinical purposes, unless otherwise proven. K E Y W O R D S articulation foil, digital occlusal analysis, occlusal analysis, occlusal contacts How to cite this article: Dias RAB, Rodrigues MJP, Messias AL, Guerra FADA, Manfredini D. Comparison between conventional and computerised methods in the assessment of an occlusal scheme. J Oral Rehabil. 2020;47:221-228.