Postural Perturbations Tracing to the Stomatognathic System

Purpose

A connection of the stomatognathic system [an anatomical system comprising the teeth, jaws, and associated soft tissues] to postural control has been suggested in the literature. This research will investigate how occlusion can impact postural response, disorder, and rehabilitation by examining how modifications in the vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) influence balance and gait. Although it is currently unclear which or how restorative approaches cause postural disturbances, changes in several occlusal factors, i.e. VDO, Angle's class, crossbite and others have been suggested to manifest clearly into an altered stability, which could have a significant effect on the quality of life, especially in the elderly. The present study aims to identify the degree to which specific interventions in oral cavity affect the stability and gait patterns of patients, This will b achieved by either: - The use of dental splints (fully certified devices) - The use of the subjects' own dentures A direct correlation of postural perturbations and VDO, would essentially void the necessity to evaluate specific interventions (e.g. different types of restorations) independently and allow clinicians to assess a potential effect on their patients' stability and gait based on pre- to post- treatment VDO.

Condition

  • Posture

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 30 Years and 65 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

for Group A - 30-45 years old - Physically and cognitively healthy (able to easily walk without assistance) - Possessing a complete set of teeth (either natural or restored with crowns) - Classified as Class I malocclusion according to Angle's criteria. Inclusion criteria for Group B - 50-65 years old - Physically and cognitively healthy (able to easily walk without assistance) - Fully edentulous - Wear complete dentures

Exclusion Criteria

  • Parkinson's Disease - Morbid obesity i.e. BMI values exceeding 40, calculated based on body weight and height requested over the phone or during the visit - Occlusion altered due to a non-physiological condition i.e. trauma or pathology - Active temporomandibular joint disorder - Pregnancy, as pregnancy-related physiological changes could influence the study's balance and gait measurements. This exclusion will be based on self-report during the screening process, and no additional testing will be conducted. - Any other condition that in the opinion of the study researchers has potential to impact balance or gait

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Non-Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Basic Science
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Active Comparator
Group A- dental splints 		Participants in this group will be adults aged 30-45 with complete dentition and Class I malocclusion. Participants must have a complete set of teeth, either natural or with crowns, ensuring no teeth are missing.
  • Other: Dental splints
    Each participant will receive six custom-made dental splints to incrementally increase their VDO. These splints will alter the VDO in increments from 5 to 30 mm, specifically: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 mm.
Active Comparator
Group B- dentures 		Participants in this group will be older adults aged 50-65 who are edentulous (without natural teeth) and wear full dentures.
  • Other: Dentures
    Participants in this group will participate in balance and gait testing both with and without their dentures to examine how the presence or absence of dentures affects postural stability and movement.

Recruiting Locations

Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University
Boston 4930956, Massachusetts 6254926 02118
Contact:
Alexandros Tsouknidas, PhD
617-358-8777
atsouk@bu.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Boston University

Study Contact

Alexandros Tsouknidas, PhD
617-358-8777
atsouk@bu.edu