Behaviour management needs for the orthodontic treatment of children with disabilities.
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A displeasing dental appearance may have a significant emotional impact on an individual's well being. Although malocclusions occur more often in physically and/or mentally handicapped children than in normal children, the most severely handicapped patients are those least likely to receive orthodontic treatment. This investigation studied the modes of behaviour management used in the orthodontic treatment of disabled children, and the preferred criteria. The files of 49 disabled children were retrospectively evaluated. Two classification systems, the Frankl Behaviour Rating Scale (FBRS), and that of Owen and Graber were found to be unsuitable for determining the appropriate treatment modality. Five specific factors, frequently seen in disabled children, gag reflex, drooling, uncontrollable movements, inability to remain still, and the need for additional procedures, were graded and a scoring system was devised to include these factors within the assessment. This scoring system may be used to evaluate new patients and to assist in the choice of the appropriate behavioural management mode. (+info)
Injections of botulinum toxin A into the salivary glands improve sialorrhoea in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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Sialorrhoea is a socially disabling problem in bulbar amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Botulinum toxin A (BoNT/A) was injected into the salivary glands in five patients with bulbar ALS and sialorrhoea. The effect of BoNT/A was measured by the number of paper handkerchiefs used each day and by salivary gland scintigraphy. BoNT/A ameliorated sialorrhoea and quality of life without major adverse effects. BoNT/A may be a relatively safe and effective treatment for sialorrhoea in selected patients. (+info)
Treatment of sialorrhoea with ultrasound guided botulinum toxin type A injection in patients with neurological disorders.
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OBJECTIVES: To investigate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound guided botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injections into salivary glands for the treatment of sialorrhoea in patients with neurological disorders. METHODS: The parotid and submandibular glands of 10 patients were injected with BTX-A using ultrasound guidance. Before injection, the baseline rate of salivation was assessed using a visual analogue scale. Postinjection, assessments were repeated at regular intervals for up to 1 year. RESULTS: Of the 10 patients treated, nine (90%) reported a subjective reduction in salivation post-treatment and one patient (10%) found no improvement. Visual analogue scale scores showed a reduction of 55% in the mean rate of salivation for all patients and a reduction of 60.8% for the group of responders. No serious adverse events occurred and no procedure related complications were reported. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to report (1) the injection of BTX-A (BOTOX) into both parotid and submandibular glands, and (2) the use of ultrasound guidance during the administration of BTX-A into salivary glands. The results suggest that the technique is safe and that BTX-A injections are effective for the treatment of sialorrhoea in patients with neurological disorders. (+info)
Comparison of lip incompetence by remote video surveillance and clinical observation in children with and without cerebral palsy.
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This study aimed to compare two methods of assessing lip position so that an appropriate method could be used to assess whether a relationship existed between lip position and drooling in children with cerebral palsy. This investigation compared the use of a new, remote video surveillance (RVS) technique with direct clinical assessment of lip position by determination of intra- and inter-examiner agreement. Lip position was assessed in both techniques using the Jackson lip classification. Two groups of school children took part: one group suffered from cerebral palsy (CP), but the second group consisted of unaffected individuals. Based on Kappa statistics, intra- and inter-examiner agreements were generally found to be moderate for the individual methods (kappa = 0.48-0.54), whilst agreement between the two methods was found to be good (kappa = 0.68). The results showed moderately good examiner-agreement in the assessment of lip position, using either method and the Jackson lip classification. Consequently, lip position can be assessed by either RVS or direct clinical assessment, the choice depending on the physical circumstances surrounding the assessor and operator preference. However, RVS may offer a more unobtrusive approach. (+info)
Mandibular advancement appliances and obstructive sleep apnoea: a randomized clinical trial.
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This randomized placebo-controlled cross-over trial assessed the effectiveness of a mandibular advancement appliance (MAA) in managing obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Twenty-one adults, with confirmed OSA, were provided with a maxillary placebo appliance and a MAA for 4-6 weeks each, in a randomized order. Questionnaires at baseline and after each appliance assessed bed-partners' reports of snoring severity (loudness and number of nights per week), and patients' daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Score, ESS). The Apnoea Hypopnoea Index (AHI) and Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) were measured at baseline and with each appliance during single night sleep studies. Seventy-nine per cent of subjects wore their MAA for at least 4 hours at night. Sixty-eight per cent of subjects wore their MAA for 6-7 nights per week. Excessive salivation was the most commonly reported complication. One subject was unable to tolerate the MAA and withdrew from the study. Among the remaining 20 subjects, the MAA produced significantly lower AHI and ODI values than the placebo. However, although the reported frequency and loudness of snoring and the ESS values were lower with the MAA than the placebo, these differences were not statistically significant. When wearing the MAA, 35 per cent of the OSA subjects had a reduction in the pre-treatment ODI to 10 or less, while 33 per cent had an AHI of 10 or less. The MAA was less effective in the subjects with the most severe OSA (pre-treatment ODI > 50 and/or pre-treatment AHI > 50). (+info)
A systematic review for evidence of efficacy of anticholinergic drugs to treat drooling.
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Drooling frequently occurs in children with multiple handicaps; application of anticholinergic drugs is a potential strategy to treat drooling. A computer aided search of original studies concerning the treatment of drooling was carried out. The methodological and statistical integrity of the identified studies were assessed with previously defined criteria. The articles were weighed for their separate contribution to the evidence. The search resulted in 64 reports, of which seven studies passed the screening and were subjected to further assessment and discussion by three referees. Because of the small number of reports and the methodological restriction within the studies, no meta-analysis could be performed. No general conclusion could be made about the efficacy of anticholinergic drugs in treatment of drooling in children with multiple handicaps. There was some evidence that three anticholinergic drugs (benztropine, glycopyrrolate, and benzhexol hydrochloride) are effective in the treatment of drooling, but it could not be concluded that one drug is preferable. (+info)
Effect of pilocarpine hydrochloride on salivary production in previously irradiated head and neck cancer patients.
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OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of pilocarpine hydrochloride on whole salivary gland production in Mexican patients affected by hyposalivation secondary to radiotherapy of the head and neck region. STUDY DESIGN: With previous written informed consent, 20 patients affected by hyposalivation secondary to head and neck radiation therapy (>40 Gy) were evaluated through the whole saliva test (WST) before, during and after ten weeks of treatment with pilocarpine hydrochloride (5 mg t.i.d.). Hyposalivationrelated symptomatology was assessed before and at every week by means of a questionnaire with an ordinal scale ranging from 0-10. Salivary production values recorded at the end of the study and those obtained before treatment were compared by means of student's t test. A paired Wilcoxon test was used to compare the differences in the oral symptoms, such as oral dryness, soreness, ability for speaking and swallowing before and after treatment. RESULTS: Initial WST had a mean salivary production of 0.8 cm (s.d. 0.7), with a range from 0 to 2.9 cm). After ten weeks of treatment salivary production increased to a mean of 2.24 cm (s.d. 0.7), with a range from 1.2 to 4.0 cm. There was a salivary flow increase of 64.5% (p<0.001). In addition, there were significant improvements in oral dryness, mouth comfort, ability to speak and ability to swallow (p<0.01). Adverse effects were usually minimal and they did not cause withdraw from the study in any case. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of 5-mg pilocarpine hydrochloride tablets three times daily significantly improved salivary production and clinical symptomatology secondary to radiation-induced hyposalivation with minimal side-effects. In addition, this study showed that WST is a fast, technically simple and highly reliable method to study salivary production in prospective studies. (+info)
Sialorrhea: a management challenge.
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Sialorrhea (drooling or excessive salivation) is a common problem in neurologically impaired children (i.e., those with mental retardation or cerebral palsy) and in adults who have Parkinson's disease or have had a stroke. It is most commonly caused by poor oral and facial muscle control. Contributing factors may include hypersecretion of saliva, dental malocclusion, postural problems, and an inability to recognize salivary spill. Sialorrhea causes a range of physical and psychosocial complications, including perioral chapping, dehydration, odor, and social stigmatization, that can be devastating for patients and their families. Treatment of sialorrhea is best managed by a clinical team that includes primary health care providers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, dentists, orthodontists, neurologists, and otolaryngologists. Treatment options range from conservative (i.e., observation, postural changes, biofeedback) to more aggressive measures such as medication, radiation, and surgical therapy. Anticholinergic medications, such as glycopyrrolate and scopolamine, are effective in reducing drooling, but their use may be limited by side effects. The injection of botulinum toxin type A into the parotid and submandibular glands is safe and effective in controlling drooling, but the effects fade in several months, and repeat injections are necessary. Surgical intervention, including salivary gland excision, salivary duct ligation, and duct rerouting, provides the most effective and permanent treatment of significant sialorrhea and can greatly improve the quality of life of patients and their families or caregivers. (+info)