• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.63-79
• /
• 2009

While previous epidemiological studies on temporomandibular disorders (TMD) have been based on a given health center or population sample, no study has been performed on general population of Korea, especially concerning about treatment pattern such as clinician’s specialty involved in TMD treatment, types and amount of prescription medication and cost. This study aimed to investigate magnitude of health visits and treatment patterns for Korean patients with TMD through the computerized database of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRAS). Inclusion criteria were all patients registered on the HIRAS database over 3 years' period from 2003 to 2005 and the medical records of patients with TMD as a main diagnosis were extracted. Information collected was as follows; distribution related to gender, age and region and type of hospital the patients visited, treatment duration, clinicians' specialty involved in treatment, cost, types of prescription medication and surgical treatment. The results of this study indicated that 0.15% of the population yearly sought TMD treatment, presenting with increase of incidence over the three years. Most of TMD patients were women (99.8%) and the biggest age group was second and third decades and decreased with age. Seoul and Kyeonggi province presented with higher incidence of TMD compared to the other regions of Korea, which seems to be related with magnitude of population. 56% of TMD patients visited primary care sector and the numbers of treatment visits was the highest in dental clinic (38.4%), followed by orthopedics (28%) and ENT (13.6%) clinics in order. Duration of prescription medication was the longest for anti-inflammatory analgesics, followed by antipsychotic drugs and muscle relaxants. Inpatient care related to TMD was primarily performed in dental hospital compared to medical hospital. Medical database of HIRAS provided comprehensive and vast information on epidemiologic characteristics and treatment patterns for patients seeking TMD treatment, which can be more reliable data to expect medical demand for TMD in condition that accurate diagnosis and standardized treatment is delivered in clinical settings.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.39-51
• /
• 2011

The aims of this study were to investigate whether the facial skeletal patterns previously reported to be related to temporomandibular disorder (TMD) in other studies could be consistently observed in the TMD patients diagnosed according to Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder (RDC/TMD) Axis I and evaluate its usability in the orthodontic clinics to examine the patients with TMD related symptoms. The clinical records and radiographs of female patients who visited the TMD and Orofacial Pain Clinic of Seoul National University Dental Hospital and were diagnosed as TMD were consecutively filed for this study. Patients were clinically examined and diagnosed according to the revised diagnostic algorithms of RDC/TMD Axis I and the lateral cephalogram, panoramic orthopantomogram, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) orthopantomogram, and transcranial radiograph of each patient were taken and digitalized. The data of patients who were under 18 years of age or had any systemic disease, trauma history involving the TMJ, or skeletal deformity at the time of the first examination were excluded. The remaining data of 96 female patients were finally analyzed. The obtained results were as follows: 1. There are no significant differences of cephalometric measurements between RDC I (muscle disorders) diagnostic groups. 2. Only the articular angle of the RDC group IIc (disk displacement without reduction without limited opening) patients was larger than patients of the no diagnosis of RDC II group (disk displacement). 3. Larger articular angle and smaller facial height ratio were observed in RDC IIIc group (osteoarthrosis) compared to IIIa group (arthralgia). Larger articular angle, larger Bjork sum, smaller posterior facial height, and smaller facial height ratio were observed in RDC group IIIc compared to no diagnosis of RDC III group (arthralgia, arthritis, and arthrosis). 4. According to the results of cephalometric analysis in simplified RDC groups, smaller overjet was observed in muscle disorders (MD) group. Facial height ratio and IMPA were smaller and articular angle was larger in disk displacements (DD) group than in no diagnosis of DD group. In arthrosis (AR) group, posterior facial height, and facial height ratio were smaller, and articular angle, gonial angle, facial convexity, FMA, Bjork sum, and ANB were larger than in no diagnosis of AR group. In joint pain (JP) group, only posterior facial height was smaller than no diagnosis of JP group. In conclusion, Facial morphologic patterns showing posterior-rotated mandible and lower posterior facial height is related to RDC group II and III diagnosis of the TMJ in female TMD patients. RDC/TMD Axis I diagnosis can provide a good clinical diagnostic tool for the standardized examination of the TMJ in orthodontic clinics.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.187-200
• /
• 2007

This study attempted to contribute to the clinical application of implant operation by making a quantitative nerve examination using a neurometer for the evaluation of sensory disturbances that could be incurred after the implantation in the dental clinics, and it intended to establish an objective guideline in the evaluation of sensory nerve after the operation of implant. An inspection was performed with the frequencies of 2000Hz, 250 Hz and 5 Hz before and after the operations of tooth implant using $Neurometer^{(R)}$ CPT/C (Neurotron, Inc. Baltimore, Maryland, USA) for 44 patients who had performed an implant operation among the patients coming to Daejeon Sun Dental Hospital in 2006 and 30 people for control group. The measuring sites were maxillary nerve ending and mandibular nerve ending of trigeminal nerve according to the implant operating regions. The current perception threshold (CPT) by each nerve fiber was specifically responded under the electric stimulation of 2000 Hz in case of $A{\beta}$ fiber and of 250 Hz in case of $A{\delta}$ fiber and of 5Hz in case of C fiber. The CPT test could be performed to assess the damages of peripheral nerve in the trigeminal nerve area and it stimulated selective nerve fibers by generating the electricity of specific frequency in the peripheral nerve area. The nerve fibers with varied thickness were responsive selectively to the electric stimulation with different frequencies; accordingly, they applied the electric stimulation with different frequencies and the reaction threshold of $A{\beta},\;A{\delta}$ and C fibers selectively responsive to each electric current could be individually evaluated. In the assessment through the CPT, the increase and decrease of the CPT could be measured so that sensory disturbances such as hyperaesthesia or hypoaesthesia could be diagnosed. This study could obtain the following results after the assessment of the CPT before and after the implant operation. 1. In the assessment before and after the implant operation, the CPT in the frequencies of 2000 Hz, 250 Hz, 5 Hz for maxillary branch increased on the whole after the operation and the CPT for mandibular branch in the $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000 Hz) and C-fiber(5 Hz )after the operation increased statistically significantly. 2. For the groups of patients with medically compromised or its subsequent medicinal prescription, there were no significant differences before and after the implant operation and for the control groups, significantly high CPT was shown after the implant operation in the left $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000 Hz) and C-fiber(5 Hz). 3. In the comparison of the measured value of the CPT before the operation between the control group and the implant operation group, the latter group had a significantly high measured value of the CPT in the right $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000 Hz) and C-fiber(5 Hz) and there were significant differences in $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000 Hz) in the CPT assessment after the implant operation for the control group. 4. Male participants had higher CPT than female counterparts; however, there were no statistic significances. In the CPT evaluation before and after implant operation, there were no statistical differences in the male group while the right C-fiber(5 Hz) and left $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000Hz) were significantly high in the female group. 5. In the comparison between the group who complain sensory disturbance and the other group, the CPT increased on the whole in the former group, but there were no statistical significances. In the groups, whom there was an increase in VAS, the CPT after the implant operation in the right C-fiber(5 Hz) increased significantly; meanwhile, in case that the VAS mark was '0' before and after the operation, the CPT after the operation in the left $A{\beta}$-fiber(2000 Hz) increased significantly. This study suggested that the CPT measurements using $Neurometer^{(R)}$ CPT/C, provide useful information of objective and quantitative sensory disturbances for tooth implantation.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.457-464
• /
• 2005

The purpose of our study was to investigate whether the intrapulpal temperature during cavity preparation of enamel or dentin with Er:YAG laser still remained in range of safety for dental pulp protection when combined with appropriate water flow rate. The effect of different pulse repetition rates at the same pulse energy during ablation was evaluated as well. Caries-free, restoration-free extracted human molar teeth were prepared for the specimen and divided two experimental groups of enamel and dentin. Each group comprised 5 specimens and each of tooth specimens were embedded into a resin block each and measuring probe was placed on the irradiated pulpal walls. For experiments of dentin ablation, enamel layers were prepared to produce dentin specimen with a same dentin thickness of 2 mm. A pulse energy of Er:YAG laser was set to 300 mJ and three different pulse repetition rates of 20 Hz, 15 Hz and 10 Hz were employed. Laser beam was delivered with 3 seconds and less per application over enamel and dentin surfaces constant sized by $3\;mm{\times}2\;mm$ and water spray added during irradiation was a rate of 1.6 ml/min. Temperature change induced by Er:YAG laser irradiation was monitored and recorded While enamel was ablated, there was no significant difference of temperature related to pulse repetition rates(p=0.358) and temperature change at any pulse repetition rate was negligible. Significant statistical difference in temperature changes during cavity preparation in dentin existed among three different pulse groups(p=0.001). While temperature rise was noticeable when the dentinal wall was perforated, actual change of temperature due to Er:YAG laser irradiation was not enough to compromise safety of dental pulp when irradiation was conjugated with appropriate water spray. Conclusively, it can be said that cavity preparation on enamel or dentin with an Er:YAG laser is performed safely without pulp damage if appropriate volume of water is sprayed properly over the irradiated site.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.131-137
• /
• 2011

Current Perception Threshold (CPT) using Neurometer($Neurometer^{(R)}$ CPT/C) is thought as one of easy and noninvasive QST(qunatitative sensory testing) tools for A${\beta}$, A${\delta}$ and C fibers within a relatively short time. However, conflicts about its reliability still exist. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of CPTs evaluation and find a way to increase its reliability. Two examiners separately tested CPTs at each side of the mandibluar nerve areas for ten healthy male adults (average age of 22.4 years) three times with an intervals of a week during three weeks. Mean CPTs were compared between the right and left sides of the mandibular nerve area and between the three examinations on the each side. While CPTs at 2000 Hz(A${\beta}$ fiber) showed statistically significant side differences in all three examinations (p<0.05), significant side difference was found in only one examination at 250 Hz(A${\delta}$ fiber) and no difference at 5 Hz(C fiber). Comparing CPTs on the each side of the mandibular nerve area, all examinations at all sensory nerve fibers showed the least CPTs at the 1st examinations. CPTs at 250 Hz(A${\delta}$ fiber) and 5 Hz(C fiber) were significantly different between the first and the following examinations (p<0.05) and there was no significant difference between 2nd and 3rd examinations. The results of this study indicated that CPTs at 250 Hz(A${\delta}$ fiber) and 5 Hz(C fiber) are reliable but CPTs at 2000 Hz(A${\beta}$ fiber) is not appropriate for evaluation of side differences in the mandibular nerve area. In addition, it is suggested that repeated examination be helpful to increase reliability of the CPT evaluation.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2011

The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of topical 5% EMLA cream versus 20% Benzocaine gel in reducing pain from intra oral needle insertion alone as well as injection of anesthetic. The 2 topical anesthetics were tested against each other bilaterally using a randomized, controlled, single blinded, split mouth design. Phase I was conducted to find out the rapidity of onset action of the two agents on anterior/posterior vestibules and anterior/posterior palatal mucosa. Phase II was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the two topical anaesthetic agents in reducing the pain of intraoral injections. The agents were left in anterior/posterior vestibules and anterior/posterior palatal mucosa for the amount of time recorded in phase I. Subjects recorded pain on a 100-mm modified visual analog scale(VAS). A pulse oximeter was used to recorded the preoperative and postoperative pulse rates. In phase I of the study, two topical agents showed the longer onset of action at anterior part and vestibules than posterior part and palatal mucosa. EMLA cream showed the rapidest onset of action compared to benzocaine gel except on anterior palatal mucosa. In phase II of the study, the VAS grading of the pain for anesthetic administration showed EMLA cream was significantly(P<.05) better in elimination or reducing the pain on the anterior/posterior palatal mucosa. In conclusion, EMLA cream showed the rapidest onset of action compared to benzocaine gel except on anterior palatal mucosa. EMLA cream was found to be superior to Benzocaine gel with regards to pain reduction for anesthetic administration especially on anterior and posterior palatal mucosa.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.371-377
• /
• 2009

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in the polysomnography data between positional and non-positional obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. Methods: Forty-seven patients diagnosed with OSA were evaluated using full night polysomnography. According to the criteria of Cartwright et al., the patients were classified into two groups with 37 positional (supine apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] $\geq$ 2x's the lateral AHI) and 10 non-positional (supine AHI < 2x's the lateral AHI) OSA patients, and the differences of polysomnography data between the two groups were evaluated. Results: There were no significant differences in demographic variables (age, gender, and BMI), daytime sleepiness, overall AHI, total arousal index, and percent time of snoring between two groups. However, AHI, arousal index, and mean oxygen saturation ($SpO_2$) of the REM sleep stage were significantly more severe in the positional OSA group than the non-positional OSA group. Mean $SpO_2$ and the lowest $SpO_2$ during overall sleep stage were also significantly lower in the positional OSA group than the non-positional OSA group. Conclusions: Our results of differences in the polysomnography data of REM sleep stage suggest that non-positional OSA patients may have higher collapsibility of the oropharyngeal airway during sleep than positional OSA patients.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.211-221
• /
• 2006

Purpose The aims of this study were to evaluate micro-tensile bond strength of composite resin bonded to dentin following high-speed rotary handpiece preparation or Er:YAG laser preparation with two different adhesive systems and to assess the influence of different Er:YAG laser energies on the micro-tensile bond strength. Materials and Methods In this study, 40 third morlars were used. Flat dentin specimans were obtained and randomly assigned to eight groups. Dentin surfaces were prepared with one of four cutting types: carbide bur, Er:YAG laser (2 W, 3 W and 4 W) and conditioned with two bonding systems, Scotchbond Multipurpose Plus (SM), Clearfil SE bond (SE) and composite resin-build ups were created. After storage for 24 hours, each specimen was serially sectioned perpendicular to the bonded surface to produce more than thirty slabs in each group. Micro-tensile bond strength test was performed at a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm/min. Micro-tensile bond strengths (${\mu}TBS$) were expressed as means$\pm$SD. Data were submitted to statistical analysis using two-way ANOVA, one-way ANOVA, Student-Newman-Keuls' multiple comparison test and t-test. Results and Conclusion 1. Regardless of bonding systems, the ${\mu}TBS$ according to cutting types were from highest to lowest : 3 W, 2 W, Bur, and 4 W. In addition, there was no significant difference between Bur and 4 W (p<0.001). 2. Regardless of cutting types, SM showed significantly higher ${\mu}TBS$ than SE (p<0.001). 3. Bonding to dentin conditioned with SM resulted in higher ${\mu}TBS$ for 3 W compared to Bur, 2 W, and 4 W. There was no significant difference between 2 W and Bur (p<0.001). 4. Bonding to dentin conditioned with SE resulted in higher ${\mu}TBS$ for 3 W compared to 2 W, 4 W, and Bur. Bur exhibited significant lower ${\mu}TBS$ than all other cutting types. There were no significant differences between 3 W, 2 W and between 4 W and Bur (p<0.001). 5. The ${\mu}TBS$ of laser cutting groups were shown in order from highest to lowest: 3 W, 2 W and 4 W in two bonding systems. There was no significant difference between 2 W and 3 W in SE (p<0.001). : The ${\mu}TBS$ of composite resin bonded dentin was significantly affected by interaction between the cutting type and bonding system. In the range of 2 W-3 W, cavity preparation of the Er:YAG laser seems to supply good adhesion of composite resin restoration no less than bur preparation. In particular, if you want to use the self-etching system, including Clearfil SE bond for the purpose of a simplification of the bonding procedures and prevention of adverse effects by excessive etching, an Er:YAG laser may offer better adhesion than a bur.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.69-77
• /
• 2006

Botulinum toxin injection has been used in the masticatory muscle area as an effective treatment method of various movement disorders and facial contouring, but its effects on jaw function have not been evaluated. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of botulinum toxin type A injection into the masseter muscle on the EMG activities of masseter and anterior temporal muscles, and the limitation of jaw function. Fourteen healthy subjects were recruited. Five subjects were injected with 80 units of botulinum toxin type A(Dysport, Ipsen, Wrexham, UK) into each side of masseter muscle, and nine subjects were injected with saline into the same site as the botulinum toxin group. The surface EMG activities at maximum voluntary contraction of masseter and anterior temporal muscles were recorded before, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks after injection. Presence of jaw functional limitations in each subject was investigated using Korean version of Jaw Functional Limitation Scale(JFLS) questionnaire. The masseter muscle EMG was gradually decreased in the botulinum toxin group comparing with that of the control group(p<0.001), but the anterior temporal muscle EMG did not show significant changes. There was significant increases in the mastication (p<0.01), and global jaw limitation(p<0.05) subscales of JFLS at 1 week after injection, but no significant changes in the other subscales including opening, and verbal and emotional expression during the recording periods. Our results suggest that botulinum toxin injection into masseter muscle can affect modest limitation in mastication function at 1 week after injection but recovered to the baseline until 3 weeks after injection. The EMG activity of masseter muscle had been gradually decreased until 3 weeks after botulinum toxin injection but the anterior temporal muscle did not show any significant changes.