07 Nov Dental Occlusion Affects Standing Balance in Unstable Conditions
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Sonia Julià-Sánchez, Ph.D.
Departament de Fisiologia i Immunologia
Universitat de Barcelona
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Contradictory results are still reported on the influence of dental occlusion on the balance control. While most literature have evaluated this relationship in static conditions with inconclusive results, the topic is still a matter of debate. However, less research has focused on the correlation of dental occlusion and balance control in unstable surfaces, even though the higher sensitivity of the unstable platforms to examine individual responses to translational and angular perturbations.
Moreover, when we talk about the influence of dental occlusion on the body balance, the study of the specific malocclusal traits influencing balance control should be of extremely importance to apply the proper treatment.
Our study was focused on the influence of dental occlusion and specific malocclusal traits on the body balance control at extreme levels of stability. We found that body balance was significantly influenced by dental occlusion in unstable conditions.
Moreover, specific occlusal traits significantly influencing postural control were: Angle Class, crowding, midline deviation, crossbite, anterior open bite and overjet.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: Our results showed that dental occlusion differently contributed to the postural control depending on the stability surface, with no effect in the stable condition. Interestingly, our findings indicate that only a selection of occlusal traits influenced negatively on the balance control. Thus, this is of great relevance for people with some of these maloccusal condition showing idiopathic balance disorders.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: Future investigations should focus on the effect of different malocclusal traits on the balance control, paying special attention to the different stability surfaces.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
Citation:
Sonia Julià-Sánchez, Jesús Álvarez-Herms, Hannes Gatterer, Martin Burtscher, Teresa Pagès, Ginés Viscor. Dental Occlusion Influences the Standing Balance on an Unstable Platform. Motor Control, 2015; 19 (4): 341 DOI: 10.1123/mc.2014-0018
Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.
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Last Updated on November 7, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD