The interdisciplinary management of hypodontia patients in the UK: a national service evaluation

Abstract

Objective To examine the distribution of interdisciplinary clinics for hypodontia patients in the UK and to assess the provision of orthodontic-restorative care for hypodontia patients in units where this service is and is not available.Design Prospective, online-questionnaire.Setting Hospital orthodontic departments in the UK.Participants In total, consultants from 92 orthodontic departments completed the questionnaire.Methods Orthodontic consultants were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding the provision of orthodontic-restorative care for hypodontia patients in their units.Results Overall, 100% of teaching hospitals and 51% of district general hospitals (DGHs) that responded have an interdisciplinary clinic for hypodontia patients. In 51% of units, the majority of patients assessed on the interdisciplinary clinic undergo their restorative care at the same secondary care unit. In 59% of units where an interdisciplinary clinic is not available most of the restorative care for hypodontia patients is provided by the GDP, whilst in 38% of units a specialist restorative dentist in another secondary care unit provides most of the restorative care.Conclusions The provision of an interdisciplinary clinic for hypodontia patients varies amongst hospital units throughout the UK. The provision of orthodontic-restorative care for hypodontia patients also varies between these units.

Study of the Clinical Efficiency of an Interdisciplinary Approach to the Treatment of Orofacial Pain and Temporomandibular Joint Disorders in Patients with Complete or Partial Edentulism

“…In such cases, the stability of positive effect after diagnostics and treatment is often rather low, and there is an increase in the rate of recurrence of orofacial pain and manifestations of the TMJ dysfunction. 4,23,24 An increasing number of authors believe that introduction of diagnostics and treatment methods based on modern methodologies is important in the treatment of this category of patients. 13,21 This was confirmed by the results of our study, which have demonstrated that the application of the complex interdisciplinary approach to prosthodontic rehabilitation contributes to the fact that statistically significantly lower (relative to the control group) levels of severity of pain during palpation of muscles of the masticatory organs, pain during opening the mouth and chewing, as well as indicators of visual analogue scale of assessment of painful sensations are observed in full-mouth reconstruction patients 1 to 3 years after the treatment.…”

“…[15][16][17] Application of such approach determines the necessity to apply methods of functional and imaging diagnostics, making it possible to perform quantitative and qualitative analysis of systems involved in the pathological process and develop a system of treatment and rehabilitation with subsequent quantitative and qualitative analysis of its effectiveness. 4,18 Thus, the problem of improving the results of rehabilitation of patients with various types of occlusion problems becomes highly relevant. At the same time, function of the masticatory system is an essential component of proper quality of human life.…”

“…Orofacial pain is defined as “pain localized to the region above the neck in front of the ears and below the orbitomeatal line, as well as pain within the oral cavity, including pain of dental origin and TMJP.” 3 4 In turn, TMJP is defined as “conditions that contribute to the incomplete or impaired function of the temporomandibular disorders and/or muscles of mastication.” The occlusion is defined as “statistical relationship between the incisal and/or masticatory surfaces of teeth of the upper and lower jaw.” 1 …”

Rehabilitation of a Patient with Temporomandibular Joint Disorder and Misocclusion Requiring Full Mouth Reconstruction, Based on the Multidisciplinary Approach: A Clinical Case

“…4,9 Assessing the condition of the dentition, in general, and the TMJ, in particular, when examining a patient, one should take into account not only the history and clinical manifestations but also analyze the complex of anthropometric and functional parameters obtained using appropriate diagnostic methods. 10,13,22 Today, most authors consider occlusive disorders as potential factors in the development of functional disorders in the TMJ. [12][13][14][15] Thus, when performing a set of measures for the correction and restoration of the anatomical shape of the teeth, one of the key areas should be the correction of the pathology of the TMJ.…”

“…As part of a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to diagnosis, it is necessary to use diagnostic research methods with the appropriate evidence base to verify the predominance of neuromuscular or occlusal-articular syndromes, as well as assess their systemic effect on the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system. 5,7,22 Currently, several conservative methods for correcting joint disorders have been proposed. In clinical practice, selective grinding, acupuncture, therapeutic exercises, autogenic training, and physiotherapeutic procedures are actively used.…”