Abstract
ABSTRACT Purpose: to assess the bite force in people with Parkinson’s disease and correlate it with age, sex, stage and time of the disease, dentures use, presence of temporomandibular disorder, side of symptom onset, and masticatory preference. Methods: the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders and the Hoehn & Yahr Parkinson’s disease scale were used, and the participants’ oral cavity was clinically examined. Then, the bite force was measured with an analog dynamometer, whose bar was adapted for mouth grip. The bite force results and their correlation with the variables were analyzed with the independent t-test (p<0.05). Results: the sample comprised 42 parkinsonians at a mean age of 64 years, 67% of whom were males. No difference was observed in the correlation with age, temporomandibular disorder, stage and time of Parkinson's disease; or between the sides, symptom onset and masticatory preference. However, there was a significant association between the sexes (males and females) for both sides (right - p=0.002; left - p=0.04) and denture use for bite force on the right side (p=0.03). Conclusion: being a female and using dentures are factors associated with decreased bite force in people with Parkinson’s disease.
Highlights
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by the degeneration of the compact portion of the substantia nigra in the midbrain[1]
People with other neurological diseases associated with PD; with cognitive impairment according to the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); with toothless upper and lower dental arches; or having been submitted to some type of mandibular or neurological surgery due to PD were excluded
The symptom onset self-report indicated a higher incidence on the left side (60%) and mostly a preference to use the right side for mastication (43%)
Summary
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by the degeneration of the compact portion of the substantia nigra in the midbrain[1] It causes the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the appearance of the main motor symptoms: bradykinesia, tremor at rest, stiffness, and postural and gait instability[2]. The motor symptoms may cause orofacial manifestations, such as inexpressive facial appearance (“masked face”), tremors and stiffness in the forehead, eyelids, lips, and tongue muscles, and pharyngeal motor deficit[6] These changes may cause facial and temporomandibular joint pain and dental traumas[7]. The person may present temporomandibular disorder (TMD), a need for dentures, and impaired mastication and swallowing[6,8,9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
