Correlation Theory of the Maxillary Central Incisor, Face and Dental Arch Shape in the Serbian Population

Background and Objectives: According to the modified Williams theory, the shape of the maxillary central incisor corresponds to the shape of the maxillary alveolar ridge (dental arch) and the shape of the face. Moreover, the standards of beauty suggest that the center of the face of an individual with a full set of teeth should match the center of the maxillary and mandibular dental arches. The purpose of this study is to conduct a comparative cross-sectional study on the matching of the shape of the face, maxillary central incisor and maxillary dental arch as well as the matching of the midfacial line and dental arches in subjects with complete dentition. Materials and Methods: The study included 90 subjects of both sexes. The matching of the shape of the face and midfacial line, i.e., dental arches and maxillary incisors, was determined by analysing photographs, whereas the shape of the dental arch was determined by analysing plaster models. Results: No significant gender-related differences were found either in the shape of the maxillary central incisor that matched the shape of the maxillary dental arch (p = 0.349) or in the shape of the dental arch that matched the shape of the face (p = 0.697). However, a significant difference was noted in the shape of the teeth that matched the shape of the face (p = 0.043), which was more significantly impaired in men. In addition, the matching of the mid-face and the mid-dental arch was significantly greater in women (p = 0.016). Conclusions: The modified Williams theory was confirmed in most subjects, thus it can be considered a relevant guideline when determining the shape of teeth after their loss. The highest percentage of matching in both sexes was with the shape of the face and dental arch. There was no positive correlation between the middle of the maxillary and mandibular dental arch in most cases.

Opportunities for psychologists to advance health equity: Using liberation psychology to identify key lessons from 17 years of praxis

Health and health care inequities persist because the efforts to eliminate them have ignored structural racism, typically using a power neutral approach to diagnose and solve the problem. Critical theory can address many of the conceptual weaknesses of current approaches, help identify how racism operates in health care, and open the door for more effective individual employee and organizational actions to advance health equity. We apply Martín-Baró's (1996) liberation psychology to lessons we learned through implementing a transdisciplinary national health and health care equity program. The program, which began in 2005, conducts equity-focused health services interventions and research, using the best available evidence to assist health and health care policymakers, payers, community-based organizations, care delivery organizations, and patients to transform and align their activities in order to advance health equity. It serves as a rare model to explore how misconceptions resulting from racist structures can hinder progress, even when everyone involved is highly motivated to address health and health care inequities. Liberation psychology guides our interpretation of the lessons learned and recommendations for the field of psychology. Psychologists advancing equity in health and health care should integrate liberation psychology and other critical theories into their own work. In addition, partnerships with other disciplines and communities outside of academia and professional health services are key to success. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Unincorporated Health: Understanding Residents' Perspectives on Factors Impacting Their Health and Emergent Place-Based Solutions

Increased mortality rates and decreased life expectancy in the United States are associated with rurality, even after adjusting for poverty. In unincorporated rural communities, high population density may compound the negative health impact of the upstream factors associated with rurality, yet little is known about how this context contributes to residents' health. We conducted nine focus groups with youth and adults from March-July 2017 in two Texas unincorporated rural communities. Using ecosocial theory and applied thematic analysis for focus groups, we investigated social, political, and historical factors that affect health. We identified two primary themes: upstream barriers to community health and K-12 schools as facilitators of community health. K-12 schools, and full-service community schools, in particular, may have an important role in closing the rural-urban health gap, even in the context of structural constraints associated with unincorporated rural status.

Reframing school-based restorative justice as a structural population health intervention

School-based restorative justice has gained national prominence as an effective approach to interrupting the school-to-prison pipeline. Remarkably, despite its simultaneous positive association with academic success, school safety, and school connectedness, most scholars and practitioners do not associate restorative justice with health. Using ecosocial theory, we conceptualize school-based restorative justice as a structural population health intervention. Our findings indicate that students attending schools using restorative justice have lower odds of missing school due to adverse health and better academic outcomes compared to students who do not. Restorative justice shows promise as a structural intervention that can contribute to improving population health.

Bruxism

Bruxism is a parafunctional activity of the masticatory system, which is characterized by clenching or scraping of teeth. This condition is often accompanied by a change in the shape and size of the teeth, as well as the function of the stomatognathic system. Bruxism can occur during sleep and in the waking state. The etiology is multifactorial and all causes can be divided into peripheral and central. The clinical signs and symptoms of bruxism are primarily characterized by temporomandibular disorders, the appearance of bruxofacets and changes in the hard dental tissues, supporting apparatus of the teeth and masticatory muscles, as well as headaches. The diagnosis of bruxism is made on the basis of anamnesis and clinical signs and symptoms, while electromyography and polysomnographic analysis are used in scientific researches. Therapy is aimed at controlling etiological factors and reducing symptoms. Occlusal splints are the most commonly used in the treatment of bruxism. Medications are used in situations when other methods, including psychotherapy, do not give positive results. Given the multifactorial etiology, the therapeutic approach must be multidisciplinary. The approach to the patient must be individual in order to treat as effectively as possible.