2010-10-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

T.M.J Dysfunction Syndrome/Myofacial pain Dysfunction Syndrom

It is facial pain with jaw dysfunction.The pain comprises a unilateral,constant jaw ache.

The pain may include earache and headache.

The dysfunction may include restricted jaw movements,clicking of the joints.

Women are affected more than men by four times.

Emotional tension and hysterical mechanisms are cofactors for this problem.

Bruxism may lead to myospasm and fatigue of the muscles.

Occlusal disharmony may be a causative factor of t.m.j dysfunction.

Myofacial pain dysfunction syndrome could be the result of extra articular derangment as well as intra articular ones.To differntiate between the two types we could make arthrography or CT scans.

Food and caries

sucrose has two important effects on formation of caries in the teeth.

Frequent ingestion of food containing sucrose provides a stronger colonization of bacteria which leads to increase caries potential.
Caries exposed frequently to sucrose rapidly metabolizes it into organic acids resulting in profound and prolonged drop in pH.

Caries activity is most strongly stimulated by the frequency rather than the quantity,of sucrose ingested.The message that excessive and frequent sucrose intake can cause caries has been widely disseminated.
Despite this knowledge,dietary modification for the purposes of caries control has failed as a public health measure.how ever for an individual patient,dietary modification can be effective if the patient is properly motivated and supervised.
Evidence of new caries activity in adolescent and adults indicated the need for dietary counseling.
The goals of dietary counseling should be to identify the sources of sucrose in the diet and reduce the frequency of sucrose ingestion.
Minor dietary changes such as substitution of sugar free foods for snacks are more likely to be accepted than more dramatic changes.
Rampant(or acute caries)(a rapidly invading infectious process usually involving several teeth)is a sign of gross dietary inadequacy,a complete absence of oral hygiene practice, or systemic illness.
The presence of rampant caries is an indication of the need fro comprehensive patient evaluation.Textbooks on nutrition and medicine should be consulted.

Dental World