Relationship between stomatognathic alterations and idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studies

Purpose

The objective of this systematic review was to assess a possible relationship between stomatognathic alterations and idiopathic scoliosis (IS).

Design

This study is a systematic review with meta-analysis of observational studies.

Methods

The protocol of this systematic review with meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022370593). A bibliographic search was carried out in the Pubmed (MEDLINE), Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL databases using the MeSH terms 'Scoliosis' and 'Stomatognathic Disease'. The odds ratio (OR) of prevalence and standardized mean difference (SMD) were used to synthesize the results.

Results

Of 1592 studies located, 14 studies were selected with 3018 subjects (age: 13.9 years). IS was related to Angle's class II (OR = 2.052, 95% CI = 1.236-3.406) and crossbite (OR = 2.234, 95% CI = 1.639-3.045). Patients with malocclusion showed a higher prevalence of IS than controls (OR = 4.633, 95% CI = 1.467-14.628), and subjects with IS showed high overjet (SMD = 0.405, 95% CI = 0.149-0.661) and greater dysfunction due to temporomandibular disorders (SMD = 1.153, 95% CI = 0.780-1.527).

Conclusion

Compared with healthy controls, subjects with IS have twice the risk of suffering from occlusion disorders, present greater temporomandibular dysfunction and have a greater overjet in the incisors. Moreover, subjects with malocclusion have an IS prevalence up to four times higher. The systematic orofacial examination of patients with IS should be recommended.

Occlusal screening as basis for the integration of conjunct gnato-prosthetic devices

The functional disorders of the masticator apparatus impose the accomplishment of a phased assessment protocol which should permit the marking out and prefigure the future treatment plan, at the same time. The association of clinical data with therapeutic options and last but not least with the patient's "expectations" represent a particularly important stage within the final occlusal and aesthetic integration. In order to analyse the data collected through examination various assessment systems are available nowadays which permit the correlation of symptoms identified with adequate diagnoses. The planning of the therapy on the basis of clinical registrations associated with the challenges of the bio-aesthetics shall impose a new conduct within the orofacial rehabilitation of patients.