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Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse denture users’ oral care habits with regard to the use of their prostheses. Background: Rehabilitative treatment is only successful when patients are motivated and aware of correct prosthesis use and hygiene. Materials and methods: Questionnaires were distributed to 150 complete denture users at the Federal University of Bahia School of Dentistry, the Esmeralda Natividade Health Center, the Bahian Science Development Foundation and a Salvador nursing home. The questionnaire included information on gender, age, length of prosthesis use, cleaning methods and materials, etc. The data were analysed using EpiInfo version 6 software. The chi-squared test was used for statistical analysis, with a significance level of 5%. Results: Questionnaire results showed that 78% of the subjects, with an average age of 67.3 years, had used the same complete denture for over 5 years. 64% slept with their prostheses and 44% removed them from the mouth only for cleaning. None of the patients interviewed knew anything about brushes designed specifically for complete dentures. 37.3% had a restricted diet and 44% believed that a complete denture would last for more than 10 years. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that the edentulous patients surveyed had limited awareness of prosthetic hygiene and long-term oral care despite extended periods of denture use.

A Articulação Temporomandibular (ATM) é um complexo sinovial constituído por estruturas anatômicas que se relacionam de diversas maneiras. As alterações do padrão de normalidade, muitas vezes denominadas de Disfunção Temporomandibulares (DTMs), são encontradas tanto em pacientes experimentais, quanto assintomáticos . O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a posição do disco articular por meio de Ressonância Magnética (RM) da ATM e a sua relação com a presença ou ausência, detectada clinicamente, de sons articulares e de sintomas de DTMs, em pacientes utilizando Próteses Totais duplas. A amostra constituiu de 15 pacientes com sons articulares e 10 pacientes sem sons articulares (grupo controle) e as imagens foram realizadas em Máxima Intercuspidação Habitual e em Máxima Abertura Bucal. As ressonâncias foram avaliadas ao negatoscópio, por um único examinador, sem conhecimento prévio da história clínica dos pacientes. A análise dos resultados demonstrou que, das 18 ATMs que apresentavam estalidos articulares, 4 possuíam o disco em uma posição normal. Por outro lado, em 9 ATMs assintomáticas, foi detectada a presença de sinais de deslocamento do disco (DD). De um total de 6 pacientes diagnosticados clinicamente com hipermobilidade, 3 apresentavam deslocamento do disco com redução (DDR), enquanto o restante possuía o disco em uma posição normal. De um total de 30 ATMs estudadas no grupo experimental, 19 apresentavam DDR após a abertura bucal. Diferentemente, em 2 ATMs, o disco permaneceu deslocado para anterior na máxima abertura bucal. O disco permaneceu estável, tanto em fechamento quanto em abertura bucal, em 9 ATMs. No grupo controle, em 11 ATMs havia um relacionamento superior do disco, 6 apresentaram DDR e em 3 houve deslocamento do disco sem redução (DDSR). Houve uma ligeira tendência de DD nas mulheres, apesar dos valores não terem sido estatisticamente significantes tanto para o gênero quanto para idade. Este estudo mostrou que os DD são comuns tanto em pacientes experimentais, quanto no grupo controle. This study evaluated the condyle/disc relationships on magnetic resonance images in a group of subjects with silent temporomandibular joints when tested clinically with those in subjects with discernible temporomandibular sounds. Twenty five completely edentulous patients were selected to receive new complete dentures. A questionnaire was filled out and magnetic resonance imaging taken with new dentures. TMD was assessed by physical examination. Only one calibrated examiner evaluated the magnetic resonance imaging by a technique proposed by TASAKI for disc position. The study was based on bilateral MRIs of 15 patients (symptomatic) and 10 symptom-free volunteers (control). According to the methodology and statistical analysis, it was noted that disc displacement was found in 45% of the TMJs with no history of articular sounds. In 6 TMJs of control group, a reducing disc displacement was found and in 3 TMJs a permanent displacement was found. Disc displacements were identified in 70% of patients. Reducing disc displacement was found in 19 of these TMJs, whereas permanent displacement was found in 2 TMJs. In 9 of the joints of the symptomatic group, a superior disc position was found. These observations demonstrate that an audible click may not imply a displaced disc.