Infrared Thermographic Analysis of Craniofacial Muscles in Military Pilots Affected by Bruxism

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:Due to the physical stresses to which they are subjected, military pilots may experience bruxism, an " oral parafunction. "Parafunction can cause masticatory muscle suff ering and serious dental, periodontal, and temporomandibular joint damage. The aim of this pilot study was to analyze the temperature distribution in masticatory and upper trapezius muscles in a sample of bruxist air force pilots, to evaluate whether an occlusal splint would be able to induce skin temperature variations in the stomatognathic apparatus using the technology of infrared thermography.METHODS: A total of 11 male Italian Air Force pilots of high performance aircraft, ages from 27 to 40 yr (mean 34.91 6 2.15 yr) with 1000 -3000 fl ight hours, were enrolled in the study and analyzed using an infrared camera in order to evaluate the temperature of the masticatory muscles. All the recordings were taken on each subject using the same protocol with and without a temporary occlusal splint. RESULTS:The occlusal splint statistically increased each muscle temperature (0.10 -0.20°C) on both the sides of the body. No statistically signifi cant diff erences were found between the left and right muscles (asymmetries) before or after the wearing of the splint except for the anterior temporalis muscle. No signifi cant improvement or variations in temperature symmetry of this muscle was found after the application of the splint. DISCUSSION:The use of an occlusal splint could help in increasing muscles temperatures in Air Force pilots with consequent relaxation of their facial muscular system.

Occlusion time analysis in military pilots affected by bruxism

“…Military pilots are characterized by peculiar pathological conditions related with their daily exposition to intense accelerative stresses 1,2 . For example, these accelerations and the stress of the military flight cause pilots of high-performance fighters frequently report work-related neck and back pain 3–5 and also different dental and stomatognathic system problems 6 .…”

“…11 reporting that 69% of Israel military aircrew is affected by bruxism, and could frequently need a treatment with occlusal splints 12 . In fact, a previous study on military pilots affected by bruxism showed that this pathology affects their masticatory muscles determining a temperature reduction related with muscular hyperactivity and that acting on military pilots’ dental occlusion applying an occlusal splint, could help in achieving a relaxation of their facial muscular system observable by an increase of the masticatory muscles temperature 1 .…”

Level of work stress and factors associated with bruxism in the military crew of the Peruvian Air Force

“…This psychological phenomenon is not only seen in office and/or commercial work but also has been documented in different countries that work-related stress occurs in the Armed Forces because it is a work environment that requires physical effort and delivery for the nation in times of war. 17,18 When evaluating the military grade according to sex, it was found that men in the officer category were more frequently found to have stress 49.0% (n ¼ 100), while in women officers it was present in only 1% (n ¼ 2) of the sample studied. In a study in Croatia on naval officers in 2011, no difference was found in the distribution by sex (female and male) between the two groups studied.…”

“…The population of the military aircrew is vulnerable to dental pathologies in addition to toothache that arises during changes in barometric pressure, that is, barodontalgia and dental fracture in high altitude conditions, and there is evidence of a higher prevalence of added odontogenic diseases among pilots. 1,17,18 It has been mentioned and shown that in different types of work, there is work-related stress. This psychological phenomenon is not only seen in office and/or commercial work but also has been documented in different countries that work-related stress occurs in the Armed Forces because it is a work environment that requires physical effort and delivery for the nation in times of war.…”

Case study of muscle fatigue in parafunctional patient using occlusal device with fiber Bragg grating sensors

“…Baldini et al [33] reported the increments in facial temperature of 0.20 °C by using the occlusal device in military pilots with bruxism, without the induced masticatory activity. In this case, they found out that the occlusal device increase the muscular temperature, which can be associated with muscle relaxation [33]. The increase of temperature can also be associated to the muscle activity.…”