Dental occlusion and body balance: A question of environmental constraints?

Abstract

Background:In the past few years, growing interest was given to the relationship between the dental occlusion and the body balance. While most research focused on this relationship at static conditions, it is evident that the contribution of the sensory information for balance control is different depending on the environmental constraints. Research question:The aim of the present paper was to elucidate whether the stomatognathic system (SS) contributes differently on body balance regulation according to the presence of external disturbances. Methods:Literature regarding the different sources involved in the proprioceptive information to the SS was reviewed. The influence of dental occlusion on balance control at different external environments was then explored. Results:The main findings are: (a) a plausible evidence between the masticatory and cervical muscles can be described; (b) a reciprocal connection between the trigeminal and vestibular nuclei supports the influence of the SS on body balance; (c) traditionally, research involving the relationship between the SS and balance control has focused on strictly controlled situations, thus, ignoring the sensory reweighting which occurs depending on the external disturbances; and (d) the afferences of dental occlusion for balance control seem strengthened when more difficult conditions are present. Conclusion:Results of the present review suggest that afferent signals from dental occlusion effectively contribute to balance control when more external perturbations are present, that is unstable support surface, fatigue and tasks being performed.However, more studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which dental occlusion may influence balance control focusing on different external environments. K E Y W O R D Sbody balance, dental malocclusion, dental occlusion, postural control, support surface | 389 JULIÀ-SÁNCHEZ Et aL.

The Influence of Dental Occlusion on Dynamic Balance and Muscular Tone

“…In this regard, indications for a different contribution of the sensory information for the balance control have been provided when changing the firm support base to an unstable one (Peterka, 2002). This finding offers more clarity to the lack of scientific agreement in the relationship between dental occlusion and body balance, which might be strongly influenced by the external perturbations (in the present research, dynamic balance) as reported in a recent review (Julià-Sánchez et al, 2019). In the majority of sports, subjects are exposed to external forces that promote a constant need of postural control regulation.…”

“…Within the physical competence, the coordination of movements to stabilize the center of body mass during self-initiated and externally triggered disturbances of stability is critically important (Hrysomallis, 2011). Several factors as central/peripheral fatigue (Paillard, 2012), muscle strength and proprioception (Sanchez-Ramirez et al, 2013), biorhythms (Gribble et al, 2007), the visual-vestibular interaction (Dichgans and Brandt, 1978), age (Alexander, 1994), foot postures (Cote et al, 2005), cortical control (Jacobs and Horak, 2007), neuroendocrine responses (Ma et al, 1992), and the stomatognathic system (Julià-Sánchez et al, 2019) are strongly involved in the maintenance of postural control. The effectiveness of the individual body balance ability will finally depend on both the complexity of the postural tasks developed and the capability of the subject's postural control system, which involves many of the underlying physiological systems mentioned above.…”

“…However, conflicting data have been reported, and results of recent reviews have benchmarked for (Cuccia and Caradonna, 2009;Moon and Lee, 2011) and against (Michelotti et al, 2011;Manfredini et al, 2012;Perinetti et al, 2013) this clinical correlation. Recently, it has been argued that dental occlusion may differentially contribute to the postural control depending on the external disturbances, with a greater contribution to the postural control when more difficult conditions are present (i.e., unstable conditions and muscle fatigue) (Tardieu et al, 2009;Julià-Sánchez et al, 2015, 2019. Interestingly, it has recently been proposed that the stomatognathic system may also contribute to the postural balance in ∼2% (Solovykh et al, 2012).…”

Do different dental conditions influence the static plantar pressure and stabilometry in young adults?

“…In spite of these contrasting results, a recent review of Julia-Sanchez S. et al (2019) stated that more studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which dental occlusion may influence balance control. The main conclusion of this review was that dental occlusion contributes to balance control when there are external perturbations such as unstable support surface or during performing unipedal or bipedal tasks [10].…”

Custom-Made Mouthguards: Electromyographic Analysis of Masticatory Muscles and Cardiopulmonary Tests in Athletes of Different Sports

“…The lack of occlusal stability could create an energy escape point similar to the sliding of the athlete's foot and an imbalance between the agonist and antagonist muscles, connected together in synergistic chains, which could be the cause of accidents and repeated muscle tears [2]. Sport mouthguards were dental devices that have been utilized by athletes who recognized the need for oral protection during their sports activities [3] [4].…”