Rehabilitation and Esthetic Enhancement of Edentulous Patient with Hollow Cheeks Using Innovative Detachable Cheek Plumper: Case Report

Complete edentulism for longer period of time and aging causes flaccid of facial musculature which leads to sunken cheeks and unpleasing appearance of face. In order to get a supplemental support for the drooping cheek muscles, fabrication of conventional complete denture with adjunct detachable cheek plumpers are simple, acceptable non-invasive and economical. Despite the discussion of various attachment used for cheek plumper in literature each have their own disadvantages. The present clinical report demonstrated the use of chairside available lingual sheath and stainless steel wire for the attachment of cheek plumpers to the maxillary complete denture.

Facial expressions alter the fundamental sound properties of speech

Literature from across academic disciplines has demonstrated significant links between emotional valence and language. For example, Whissell’s Dictionary of Affect in Language defines three dimensions upon which the emotionality of words is describable, and Ekman’s Theories of Emotion include the perception and internalization of facial expressions. The present study seeks to expand upon these works by exploring whether holding facial expressions alters the fundamental speech properties of spoken language. Nineteen (19) participants were seated in a soundproof chamber and were asked to speak a series of pseudowords containing target phonemes. The participants spoke the pseudowords either holding no facial expression, smiling, or frowning, and the utterances recorded using a high-definition microphone and phonologically analysed using PRAAT analysis software. Analyses revealed a pervasive gender differences in frequency variables, where males showed lower fundamental but higher formant frequencies compared to females. Significant main effects were found within the fundamental and formant frequencies, but no effects were discerned for the intensity variable. While intricate, these results are indicative of an interaction between the activity of facial musculature when reflecting emotional valence and the sound properties of speech uttered simultaneously.

Customized Attachment for Cheek Plumper: A Case Report

The goals of replacement of teeth with a complete denture are not limited to only providing the patient with the ability to chew food comfortably. Due to the increasing demands and consciousness of the patients regarding esthetics, prosthodontist must emphasize on not just the function but also overall appearance of the patients. The loss of support of the facial musculature is of great concern in treating completely edentulous patients. Sunken cheeks are one of the major consequences of flaccid facial musculature. The incorporation of cheek plumpers in the dentures has improved the appearance of patients with such conditions. They are noninvasive and straightforward to fabricate. Various attachments may be used for this purpose depending upon the case present. This case report involves 2 cases with different techniques for the attachment of detachable cheek plumpers.

Alveolar arch shapes and its relation to complete denture retention

The alveolar ridge consists of denture bearing mucosa, sub-mucosa and periosteum, and residual alveolar bone. After tooth extraction, the remaining alveolar bone undergoes a remodeling process that leads to morphological reduction and alteration, which results in the change in alveolar ridge forms. However, it does not change alveolar arch shapes. This literature review aimed to analyze the relationship of alveolar arch shapes with complete denture retention. According to House (1958), alveolar arch shapes classified into three classes: Class I-square, Class II-tapering, Class III-ovoid. Those three alveolar arch shapes have a difference in the denture bearing area, with the largest denture bearing site on Class I-Square alveolar arch shape. Some factors that influence complete denture retention are adhesion, cohesion, interfacial force, oral and facial musculature, atmospheric pressure, undercut, rotational insertion path, parallel walls, and gravity. The alveolar arch shapes can affect retention regarding the size of the denture bearing area.The alveolar arch forms with a wider denture bearing area provide more considerable surface contact between the denture and mucous membranes. The forces resulting from those factors of retention might produce more excellent complete denture retention. The square arch shape is the alveolar arch shape with the largest denture bearing area. Hence, the square arch shape is believed to have the best complete denture retention.KEYWORDS: arch shape; retention; complete denture; denture bearing area

Extending the MaqFACS to measure facial movement in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) reveals a wide repertoire potential

Facial expressions are complex and subtle signals, central for communication and emotion in social mammals. Traditionally, facial expressions have been classified as a whole, disregarding small but relevant differences in displays. Even with the same morphological configuration different information can be conveyed depending on the species. Due to a hardwired processing of faces in the human brain, humans are quick to attribute emotion, but have difficulty in registering facial movement units. The well-known human FACS (Facial Action Coding System) is the gold standard for objectively measuring facial expressions, and can be adapted through anatomical investigation and functional homologies for cross-species systematic comparisons. Here we aimed at developing a FACS for Japanese macaques, following established FACS methodology: first, we considered the species’ muscular facial plan; second, we ascertained functional homologies with other primate species; and finally, we categorised each independent facial movement into Action Units (AUs). Due to similarities in the rhesus and Japanese macaques’ facial musculature, the MaqFACS (previously developed for rhesus macaques) was used as a basis to extend the FACS tool to Japanese macaques, while highlighting the morphological and appearance changes differences between the two species. We documented 19 AUs, 15 Action Descriptors (ADs) and 3 Ear Action Units (EAUs) in Japanese macaques, with all movements of MaqFACS found in Japanese macaques. New movements were also observed, indicating a slightly larger repertoire than in rhesus or Barbary macaques. Our work reported here of the MaqFACS extension for Japanese macaques, when used together with the MaqFACS, comprises a valuable objective tool for the systematic and standardised analysis of facial expressions in Japanese macaques. The MaqFACS extension for Japanese macaques will now allow the investigation of the evolution of communication and emotion in primates, as well as contribute to improving the welfare of individuals, particularly in captivity and laboratory settings.

Customised Ball Attachment Retained Cheek Plumpers to Enhance Facial Aesthetics: A Case Report

Facial aesthetics plays a very important role in dentistry. Loss of teeth leads to the resorption of alveolar ridges, loss of support to the facial musculature resulting in diminished facial muscle tone, all of which lead to the slumping of the cheek. Authors here by present a case of a 59-year-old male patient who reported with the complaint of missing upper and lower teeth. Intraoral examination revealed completely edentulous maxillary and mandibular arches. Extraoral examination revealed sunken cheek and wrinkling of the skin. The patient was more concerned about his hollow cheek, so the treatment option advised for him was complete denture with detachable cheek plumpers. The technique used here precisely determines available space for cheek plumpers. But, despite of providing the maxillary cheek plumper, appearance of hollow cheek remained in lower third of face. So, the mandibular cheek plumper was also planned. This case report a novel, simple, straightforward, cost-effective and noninvasive technique of fabricating detachable cheek plumpers for maxillary and mandibular denture using customised ball attachment.

Esthetic Rehabilitation Using Magnet-Retained Cheek Plumper Prosthesis

Summary. Prosthetic rehabilitation of a completely edentulous patient is no more confined to replacement of missing teeth. Long span of edentulism and ageing leads to loss of support of the facial musculature, which is of great concern in treating completely edentulous patients. Flaccid facial musculature eventually leads to sunken cheeks and unesthetic appearance, causing a negative impact on psychological well-being of the patient. The use of conventional complete dentures can restore the loss to some extent, but in some cases, additional support is required. The present clinical report exemplifies the use of magnet-retained detachable maxillary cheek plumper prosthesis in a completely edentulous patient with sunken cheeks.

Applied Anatomy for Botulinum Toxin Injection in Cosmetic Interventions

Purpose of Review To provide the reader with a clear overview of facial anatomy as it relates to injection of botulinum toxin. Recent Findings The review suggests the presentation of multiple combinations of facial musculature, with the forehead, glabellar, and nasal base areas as particular areas of variation. Differences in musculature result in different wrinkling patterns; with age, these changes first become apparent in the upper face, particularly in the forehead and glabellar area. Summary Botulinum toxin is well suited to achieve the optimal outcome: it is popular, safe, and non-invasive and presents with few adverse effects. Though limited, when adverse effects do arise these are primarily related to poor injection technique, often fuelled by poor anatomical knowledge. For clinicians to achieve the best outcomes with botulinum toxin use, an understanding of the facial muscles’ anatomy, actions, and interactions is key. This paper discusses the broad and intricate detail regarding the key target muscles of botulinum toxin, based on both literature review and cadaveric dissection carried out by the authors.

Retrieval of an Intracranially Migrated Dental Injection Needle Through the Foramen Ovale: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Dental injection needle migration is a rare complication of orthodontal procedures. When these needles fracture, they typically dislodge into the cervical space or the facial musculature. Migration into the cranial vault is difficult because of the obstacle created by the skull base. We report a rare case of intracranial migration of an anesthetic injection needle through the foramen ovale. A 59-yr-old man underwent the extraction of a right maxillary molar. The distal end of a 25-gauge injection needle broke into his pterygoid musculature, causing him pain while chewing. Vascular imaging obtained after a computed tomography scan of his face showed that the needle had migrated, potentially because of his efforts of mastication, and had traversed the foramen ovale into the middle cranial fossa. The patient started experiencing intermittent right facial numbness, likely due to compression or injury to the right trigeminal nerve. Our oral and maxillofacial colleagues did not believe that the needle could be retrieved from its facial end. The patient elected to undergo the recovery of the needle through a craniotomy given the fact that the object was contaminated and because he was becoming increasingly symptomatic. A right pterional craniotomy was planned. Extradural dissection was performed until the dura going into the foramen ovale was revealed. We could feel the metallic needle under the dural sheath of the trigeminal nerve. The dura was opened sharply directly over the needle. We then proceeded to mobilize the needle into the face, and then pulled it out completely through the craniotomy to avoid injury to the temporal lobe. The patient recovered well and was asymptomatic at the time of discharge. This case report was written in compliance with our institutional ethical review board. Institutional review board (IRB) approval and patient consent were waived in light of the retrospective and deidentified nature of the data presented in accordance with the University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) IRB.