Pain in masticatory muscles is among the most prominent symptoms of temperomandibular disorders (TMDs) that have diverse and complex etiology. A common complaint of TMD is that unilateral pain of craniofacial muscle can cause a widespread of bilateral pain sensation, although the underlying mechanism remains unknown. To investigate whether unilateral inflammation of masseter muscle can cause a bilateral allodynia, we generated masseter muscle inflammation induced by unilateral injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) in rats, and measured the bilateral head withdrawal threshold at different time points using a von Frey anesthesiometer. After behavioral assessment, both right and left trigeminal ganglia (TRG) were dissected and examined for histopathology and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) mRNA expression using quantitative real-time PCR analysis. A significant increase in TRPV1 mRNA expression occurred in TRG ipsilateral to CFA injected masseter muscle, whereas no significant alteration in TRPV1 occurred in the contralateral TRG. Interestingly, central injection of TRPV1 antagonist 5-iodoresiniferatoxin into the hippocampus significantly attenuated the head withdrawal response of both CFA injected and non-CFA injected contralateral masseter muscle. Our findings show that unilateral inflammation of masseter muscle is capable of inducing bilateral allodynia in rats. Upregulation of TRPV1 at the TRG level is due to nociception caused by inflammation, whereas contralateral nocifensive behavior in masticatory muscle nociception is likely mediated by central TRPV1, pointing to the involvement of altered information processing in higher centers.

Influences of age and maxillary anterior teeth status on patient's satisfaction with dental appearance and tooth colour Objectives: To study the impact of age, gender, tooth colour and maxillary anterior teeth status on patient's satisfaction with their dental appearance. Material and methods: A total of 259 Caucasian subjects participated in the study (119 men, mean age 56 years; 140 women, mean age 61 years) divided into three age groups (young <35 age; middle aged 35-54 age; old ‡55 age). Their maxillary anterior teeth status was classified into three groups: (1) natural teeth (NTG) group; (2) composite filling group (CFG) and (3) porcelain-fused-to-metal fixed prosthodontic restoration group (FPDG). The participants judged appearance and tooth colour using a scale with three categories: completely dissatisfied, moderately dissatisfied and completely satisfied. Results: Almost half of the participants were completely satisfied with their dental appearance and tooth colour. Half of the 'young' and 'middle-aged' participants with natural maxillary anterior teeth were completely satisfied and half of the 'old' participants were moderately satisfied with their dental appearance and tooth colour. The majority of participants with composite restorations (45-51%) were moderately satisfied with their dental appearance, one-third of 'young' and 'middle-aged' participants were moderately satisfied or dissatisfied with their tooth colour and more than 70% of older participants were dissatisfied with their tooth colour (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Satisfaction with the appearance of the maxillary anterior teeth differed both between individuals of different age and different dental status.

AimTo determine the relationship between bilateral allodynia induced by masseter muscle inflammation and P2X3 receptor expression changes in trigeminal ganglia (TRG) and the influence of intramasseteric P2X3 antagonist administration on bilateral masseter allodynia.MethodsTo induce bilateral allodynia, rats received a unilateral injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) into the masseter muscle. Bilateral head withdrawal threshold (HWT) was measured 4 days later. Behavioral measurements were followed by bilateral masseter muscle and TRG dissection. Masseter tissue was evaluated histopathologically and TRG tissue was analyzed for P2X3 receptor mRNA expression by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. To assess the P2X3 receptor involvement in nocifensive behavior, two doses (6 and 60 μg/50 μL) of selective P2X3 antagonist A-317491 were administrated into the inflamed masseter muscle 4 days after the CFA injection. Bilateral HWT was measured at 15-, 30-, 60-, and 120-minute time points after A-317491 administration.ResultsHWT was bilaterally reduced after the CFA injection (P < 0.001). Intramasseteric inflammation was confirmed ipsilaterally to the CFA injection. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis demonstrated enhanced P2X3 expression in TRG ipsilaterally to CFA administration (P < 0.01). In comparison with controls, the dose of 6 μg of A-317491 significantly increased bilateral HWT at 15-, 30-, and 60-minute time points after the A-317491 administration (P < 0.001), whereas the dose of 60 μg of A-317491 was efficient at all time points ipsilaterally (P = 0.004) and at 15-, 30-, and 60-minute time points contralaterally (P < 0.001).ConclusionUnilateral masseter inflammation can induce bilateral allodynia in rats. The study provided evidence that P2X3 receptors can functionally influence masseter muscle allodynia and suggested that P2X3 receptors expressed in TRG neurons are involved in masseter inflammatory pain conditions.

Oral infections caused by Candida species are becoming more common, which may be related to an increase in the number of immunologically compromised patients as well as favorable conditions in the oral cavity that often include removable prosthetic appliances. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of a particular Candida species in patients with PMMA and Cr-Co prosthetic appliances, as well as the salivary flow rate, and oral signs and symptoms. This investigation included a total of 120 subjects with different kinds of removable dentures. A sample of concentrated oral rinse was collected from all subjects in order to detect Candida colonization and identify the Candida species, a quantum of salivation was measured, and subjects were examined clinically. Candida spp. was predominant among the subjects who were denture wearers (p < 0.0001). In all subjects, the most frequently detected species was C.albicans. A statistically significant difference was found between the prevalence of C.albicans (p < 0.001) and C.krusei (p < 0.001) in denture wearers. Subjects with PMMA-based removable prosthetic appliances mostly demonstrated a significant decrease in salivation (p < 0.001), an increase in burning sensations (p < 0.001), and dry mouth (p < 0.001) compared to the subjects who wore partial dentures with Co–Cr metallic frameworks. Red oral lesions were more frequently found among the subjects with partial dentures with Co–Cr metallic frameworks (p < 0.001). Regardless of the material used for the denture, patients must be regularly checked by their dentists in order to prevent the development of oral lesions.

For the first time the effects of different sampling periods and their interaction with five major autochthonous Croatian Istrian olive cultivars and the Italian cultivar ‘Leccino’ on the quantity and composition of olive leaf phenolic compounds and mineral nutrients were investigated. For that purpose, olive leaves were sampled in two collecting periods, in October and March, coinciding with the harvesting and pruning periods, respectively. All selected cultivars had a higher oleuropein leaf content in the pruning collecting period, with the highest levels noted for the ‘Leccino’ and ‘Buža’ cultivars. Cultivar significantly affected almost all the investigated phenols, with higher concentrations of these valuable compounds in the pruning than in the harvesting period. Differences observed in leaf mineral composition were closely related to the differences in phenolic profiles and were significantly affected by genotype. Some of the studied mineral nutrients, such as P, Cu and B, were found to be significantly correlated with the most abundant olive leaf phenolic compounds, oleuropein and verbascoside.

Purpose: P 2 Y 2 receptors (P 2 Y 2 Rs) are among the various receptors that play an important role in nociception. The goal of this research was to investigate possible P 2 Y 2 R expression changes in the trigeminal ganglion (TRG) in bilateral masseter muscle (MM) hypersensitivity following unilateral MM inflammation. The impact of unilateral intramasseteric administration of P 2 Y 2 R antagonist on bilateral MM hypersensitivity was also explored. Materials and Methods: Bilateral MM hypersensitivity was provoked by unilateral intramasseteric injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). The head withdrawal threshold (HWT) was assessed bilaterally 4 days later. Bilateral TRG and MM isolation were followed, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and histopathological analysis were carried out on these tissues, respectively. The involvement of P 2 Y 2 Rs in nocifensive behavior was evaluated by administering two doses of P 2 Y 2 R antagonist AR-C118925 (0.2 or 1 mg/100 μL) in inflamed MM 4 days post-CFA administration. Bilateral HWT was assessed at different time points following antagonist injection. Results: qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated P 2 Y 2 R up-regulation in TRG ipsilateral to the site of CFA administration. Compared to the controls, both doses of AR-C118925 injected ipsilateral to the TRG increased the bilateral HWT at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after antagonist administration. Conclusion: The findings suggest that P 2 Y 2 Rs may affect MM inflammatory hypersensitivity owing to its up-regulation in the TRG in MM inflammatory pain states.

Background: Tooth extraction, changing dentition and malocclusion can decrease area of occlusal contact and negatively affect masticatory efficiency. Aim of this study was to evaluate difference in masticatory efficiency in association with previously named factors. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study masticatory efficiency parameters (number of particles, mean diameter and mean surface of particles) determined with optical scanning method were compared between children with healthy dentition (12 girls, 12 boys, age 3 to 14) and children with lost antagonistic contacts due to tooth extraction, changing dentition and malocclusions (12 girls, 12 boys, age 3 to 14). Results: Number of chewed particles is significantly higher in a group of children with healthy dentition (p < 0.001), and chewed particles’ mean diameter and surface are significantly higher in the Group 2 (p < 0.001; p < 0.001). Number of lost occlusal contacts is not in correlation with masticatory efficiency parameters (p= 0.464; p= 0.483; p= 0.489). Conclusions: Children with lost antagonistic contacts have an impaired masticatory efficiency in comparison to children with complete dentition, but there is no difference regarding the aetiology of contact loss.

Sažetak. Boja zuba u dentalnoj medicini značajno utječe na doživljaj cjelokupne estetike zubi i lica. Percepcija boje ovisi o mnogim čimbenicima, kao što su ljudski faktor, osvjetljenje, okolina, boja pozadine i drugi optički fenomeni. Odabir boje u dentalnoj medicini najčešće se vrši vizualno, pomoću tvorničkih ključeva boja koji se temelje na tonu boje, zasićenosti ili svjetlini. Boje iz ključa uspoređuju se s bojom zubnog niza pacijenta. Takav način odabira boje vrlo je subjektivan te je tako odabranu boju teško reproducirati. Stoga su kreirane objektivne, instrumentalne metode određivanja boje pomoću različitih uređaja, kao što su digitalne kamere, kolorimetar i spektrofotometar. Boja zuba odabrana ovim metodama daje rezultate koji su kvantificirani, objektivizirani, lako ponovljivi i moguće ih je reproducirati u dentalnom laboratoriju.Ključne riječi: estetika; percepcija boje; zubi Abstract. The teeth color in dental medicine significantly affects the overall aesthetics of the teeth and face. Color perception depends on many factors, such as human factor, lighting, environment, background color, and other optical phenomena. Choosing the color in dental medicine is most often done visually using the factory-made color shade guide that is based on the tone of color, saturation or brightness. Colors from the prefabricated shade guide are compared to the color of the dental arch of the patient. Such a color assessment mode is very subjective and the selected color is difficult to reproduce. Therefore, objective and instrumental methods of determining the color were created using different devices such as digital cameras, a colorimeter and a spectrophotometer. Tooth color selected by these methods give results that are quantified, objectified, easily repeatable and reproduced in dental laboratory.