Evaluation of the relationship between temporomandibular disorders and occlusal vertical dimension in patients with Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Muscular rigidity and bradykinesia are characteristic clinical symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) and affect, among other muscle groups, muscles of the face and neck. Through the course of the disease, are also observed postural changes, such as anterior cervical spine and thoracic hyperlordosis. The combination of these clinical conditions may predispose to changes in the biomechanics of the stomatognathic system and the development of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Malocclusion is a major etiological factors in TMD and oclusal vertical dimension (OVD) is the main determinant for the establishment of the occlusal equilibrium. The aim of this observational analytical cross-sectional assesses whether there is a correlation between the presence of TMD-related variability of the DVO in individuals with PD. The sample is composed of 40 individuals of both genders with PD. To evaluate the presence of TMD will use the Research Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) and the variability of the DVO will be obtained by measuring caliper with the aid of the following anatomical points: labial distance - corner of the eye (CI - Co) and distance base of the nose - chin (Na - Me). To characterize the sample, descriptive statistics will be used, by using the mean and standard deviation (parametric variables) and median and interquartile range (nonparametric variables). The results will be submitted to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and after, the Pearson correlation coefficients or Spearman, as the data distribution.(AU)