Electromyographic activity of anterior temporal and masseter muscles was measured in 92 young healthy men and women with sound dentitions during rest position, contact in centric occlusion and clench. Male and female mean potentials were similar except in clench, where males had higher electromyographic levels. Mean pooled electromyographic potentials were 1.9 microV (TA) and 1.4 microV (MM) during rest position, 6.5 microV (TA) and 2.8 microV (MM) during contact in centric occlusion. Mean maximum voluntary clench potentials were 181.9 microV (TA) and 216.2 microV (MM) in men, 161.7 microV (TA) and 156.8 microV (MM) in women. Examined muscles were more asymmetric at low electromyographic activity (rest and centric occlusion) with the temporal muscle less asymmetrical than the masseter. In females temporal muscle activity tended to dominate at every contraction level, while in males masseter activity was stronger in clench, and temporal activity in centric occlusion and in rest position.

Aging is accompanied by profound changes in many physiological functions, leading to a decreased ability to cope with stressors. Many changes are subtle, but can negatively affect nutrient intake, leading to overt malnutrition. Poor oral health may affect food selection and nutrient intake, leading to malnutrition and, consequently, to frailty and sarcopenia. On the other hand, it has been highlighted that sarcopenia is a whole-body process also affecting muscles dedicated to chewing and swallowing. Hence, muscle decline of these muscle groups may also have a negative impact on nutrient intake, increasing the risk for malnutrition. The interplay between oral diseases and malnutrition with frailty and sarcopenia may be explained through biological and environmental factors that are linked to the common burden of inflammation and oxidative stress. The presence of oral problems, alone or in combination with sarcopenia, may thus represent the biological substratum of the disabling cascade experienced by many frail individuals. A multimodal and multidisciplinary approach, including personalized dietary counselling and oral health care, may thus be helpful to better manage the complexity of older people. Furthermore, preventive strategies applied throughout the lifetime could help to preserve both oral and muscle function later in life. Here, we provide an overview on the relevance of poor oral health as a determinant of malnutrition and sarcopenia.

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The present study supports the finding of a predominantly thin facial bone overlying the six maxillary anterior teeth. Therefore, it is essential to make informed treatment decisions based on thorough site evaluation before immediate implant placement.

The novel Coronavirus pandemic defines a new risk for all dental practitioners, hygienists, and dental assistants. As an increasing number of dentists are now developing this disease, we wanted to provide some measures to manage this risk in the dental practice, by undergoing a review of the current literature. This minireview searches the literature for articles that both defined the infection risk in the dental practice and provided evidence on the efficacy of some procedures on reducing the infection risk. Several articles have already pointed out some necessary measures: fewer patients have to be admitted to the practice, a short triage should be carried out, and the appropriate measures of protection have to be used. On the basis of the literature collected, a short questionnaire and a flowchart is proposed to define the risk that each patient carries, and to appropriately adapt each procedure based on the patient’s risk. The literature is still limited on this subject, but on the basis of what is available, dental practices have to adapt to the situation in order to protect dental health professionals. Impact statement Dentists have always been taught how to protect themselves and their patients from potential blood-borne pathogens, but the Coronavirus pandemic has brought a new unprecedented challenge to the world of dentistry; we therefore reviewed the literature to provide suggestions on how to accordingly change dental practice prevention.