Dental occlusion, body posture and temporomandibular disorders: where we are now and where we are heading for

Abstract

Summary The aim of this investigation was to perform a review of the literature dealing with the issue of relationships between dental occlusion, body posture and temporomandibular disorders (TMD). A search of the available literature was performed to determine what the current evidence is regarding: (i) The physiology of the dental occlusion–body posture relationship, (ii) The relationship of these two topics with TMD and (iii) The validity of the available clinical and instrumental devices (surface electromyography, kinesiography and postural platforms) to measure the dental occlusion–body posture–TMD relationship. The available posturographic techniques and devices have not consistently found any association between body posture and dental occlusion. This outcome is most likely due to the many compensation mechanisms occurring within the neuromuscular system regulating body balance. Furthermore, the literature shows that TMD are not often related to specific occlusal conditions, and they also do not have any detectable relationships with head and body posture. The use of clinical and instrumental approaches for assessing body posture is not supported by the wide majority of the literature, mainly because of wide variations in the measurable variables of posture. In conclusion, there is no evidence for the existence of a predictable relationship between occlusal and postural features, and it is clear that the presence of TMD pain is not related with the existence of measurable occluso‐postural abnormalities. Therefore, the use instruments and techniques aiming to measure purported occlusal, electromyographic, kinesiographic or posturographic abnormalities cannot be justified in the evidence‐based TMD practice.

Intersession reliability of a posturo-stabilometric test, using a force platform

“…The most commonly evaluated parameters are sway length/velocity and area traversed based upon sequential locations of the COP in the plane of the force platform, and the displacement of the COP mean location on the X and Y axis (Gangloff et al, 2000;Manfredini et al, 2012).…”

“…This approach is used in dentistry as well, as part of gnathological therapies (Baldini et al, , 2012a and to investigate the potential associations between dental occlusion and body posture (Baldini et al, 2013a,b;Manfredini et al, 2012). These associations are the subject of an ongoing discussion as evidence has been published both in support of their existence (Bracco et al, 2004;Manfredini et al, 2012;Sakaguchi et al, 2007) and in disagreement with it (Michelotti et al, 2006;Perinetti, 2006).…”

“…These associations are the subject of an ongoing discussion as evidence has been published both in support of their existence (Bracco et al, 2004;Manfredini et al, 2012;Sakaguchi et al, 2007) and in disagreement with it (Michelotti et al, 2006;Perinetti, 2006). Moreover some criticism was made against the use of stabilometric platform as a trustworthy instrument.…”

Avaliação da relação entre disfunção temporomandibular e dimensão vertical de oclusão em crianças de 7 A 12 anos

“…Such changes can cause pathogenic muscle and joint development indicative of TMD 4,10,11 . TMD is a term applied to functional abnormalities in the temporomandibular jointand associated structures 1,12,13 .…”

“…As each 3 mm in change in VDOleads to an approximate change of 0.8 mm in the central relation, 20 it is important to maintain the ideal VDOin accordance with age for a correct central relation, thereby avoiding problems with the occlusion and temporomandibular joint, as such problems can cause changes in the muscles and joints indicative of TMD 3,11,21,22 .…”