Influenza dei rialzi di masticazione nel mantenimento dell’equilibrio posturale

Influence of occlusal interferences in keeping postural sway To assess possible relationships between postural sway and occlusal interferences, eight young healthy men were analyzed. For each subject, single 1 mm thick occlusal interferences were prepared for teeth 3.3, 3.5, 3.7, 4.3, 4.5 and 4.7. Stabilometric analysis were performed during: a) maximum voluntary teeth clenching in ICP; b) teeth clenching on two cotton rolls; c) six trials, one for each occlusal interference. Trials were performed either with open or closed eyes. For each trial, the variations of the centre of foot pressure were measured. On average, with open eyes, body sway was larger with the occlusal interferences than with the cotton rolls; in contrast, with closed eyes, different individual patterns were observed. In all subjects, body sway was larger with closed than with open eyes (p = 0.004, analysis of variance). In all trials, a large individual variability was found, and the asymmetric occlusal interferences did not modify body sway univocally (p > 0.05, analysis of variance), with individual patterns of asymmetry. In conclusion, a relationship between occlusal interferences and body sway may be present, but it is highly variable and individually determined.