The Effect of Clenching and Occlusal Instability on Body Weight Distribution, Assessed by a Postural Platform.

Konstantinos X Michalakis,Argiris L Pissiotis,Hiroshi Hirayama,Savvas N Kamalakidis

doi:10.1155/2019/7342541

Konstantinos X Michalakis, Argiris L Pissiotis + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/7342541

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Abstract

The purpose of this research project was to investigate whether or not clenching and occlusal instability of Angle's Class I malocclusion have an effect on body weight distribution in healthy adult subjects. Twenty adults (fourteen males and six females, ages 27-40, mean age 31.7 years, SD 3.32) were included in this study. The MatScan (Tekscan Inc., Boston, MA) system was used to measure the body weight distribution changes of the subjects. Four body weight distribution measurements were taken for each subject while (1) the mandible was in the rest position (no tooth contact) (RES), (2) subject was clenching (maximum intercuspation of the teeth with heavy occlusal forces) (CL), (3) subject was clenching on the right side (with 1 mm disocclusion on the left side) (CLR), and (4) subject was clenching on the left side (with 1 mm disocclusion on the right side) (CLL). The lateral and the anteroposterior body weight distribution changes during the different clenching conditions (both sides, right, and left) were compared to those at which the mandible was at the rest position. The statistical significance of these results was tested with a Chi-Squared test (p<0.05). Based on the findings of the present study it was concluded that clenching and occlusal instability are associated with lateral body weight distribution changes.

Highlights

The stomatognathic system is a complex and highly refined unit consisting of the teeth, the temporomandibular joint, and the neuromuscular mechanism
To investigate whether the body weight distribution changed during the different clenching conditions, the overall lateral body weight distribution (OLWD) and the anteroposterior body weight distribution (APWD) during clenching were compared to those at which the mandible was at the rest position
The results of the present study support the notion that clenching and occlusal instability are associated with lateral body weight distribution changes

Summary

Introduction

The stomatognathic system is a complex and highly refined unit consisting of the teeth, the temporomandibular joint, and the neuromuscular mechanism. Acquired data indicate that dental occlusion can contribute to postural changes [9,10,11]. There is some recently published research supporting the notion that there is no detectable [20,21,22] or weak [9, 10] correlation between dental occlusion and body posture. The contradicting results, as well as the fact that the instrumentation employed in past research projects [17, 23] could not provide very accurate information regarding the body weight distribution on the soles, necessitate further investigation into this area. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not clenching and occlusal instability in Angle’s Class I malocclusion healthy adult subjects have an effect on body weight distribution.

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