Teresa Vallelonga

Publications (4)2.86 Total impact

• Article: Reverse-sequencing chewing patterns evaluation in anterior versus posterior unilateral crossbite patients.

  Maria G Piancino, Elena Comino, Francesca Talpone, Teresa Vallelonga, Gianluigi Frongia, Pietro Bracco
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  ABSTRACT: It is well established that patients with a unilateral posterior crossbite exhibit reverse-sequencing chewing patterns when chewing on the affected side. The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of reverse-sequencing chewing cycles in patients with anterior versus posterior unilateral crossbite during chewing soft and hard boluses. Eighty-six children (39 boys, 47 girls) were included in the study: 26 (10.4 ± 2.7 years) with unilateral anterior crossbite, 43 (10.2 ± 4.2 years) with unilateral posterior crossbite, and 17 (10.6 ± 2 years) with normal occlusion were selected for the study. Mandibular movements were measured with a kinesiograph (K7, Myotronics Inc. Tukwila). The kinematic signals were analyzed using custom-made software. The results showed a low prevalence of reverse-sequencing chewing cycles in patients with anterior crossbite, without any significant difference between sides and with the control group, with both soft (P = 0.33) and hard (P = 0.29) bolus. The patients with posterior unilateral crossbite showed a significant higher prevalence of reverse-sequencing chewing cycles during chewing on the crossbite side with respect to the non-crossbite side (P < 0.001) and to the control group (P < 0.001). Comparing the patients with anterior versus posterior unilateral crossbite, a significant difference (P < 0.001) in the prevalence of reverse chewing cycles was demonstrated during chewing on the posterior crossbite side only with both soft and hard bolus. In conclusion, patients with anterior versus posterior unilateral crossbite show different functional characteristics depending on which dental region is involved.
  The European Journal of Orthodontics 09/2011; 34(5):536-41. · 0.89 Impact Factor
• Article: Slow or rapid palatal expansion for early treatment of unilateral posterior crossbite? Evaluation of the reverse chewing cycles correction.

  Maria G Piancino, Francesca Talpone, Teresa Vallelonga, Gianluigi Frongia, Cesare L Debernardi, Pietro Bracco
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  ABSTRACT: It is well established that patients with a unilateral posterior crossbite, when chewing on the affected side, show an increased frequency of reverse chewing cycles. It was hypothesized that the correction of reverse cycles may be due to the characteristics of the therapy. The aim was to investigate the prevalence of reverse chewing patterns in children with unilateral posterior crossbite before and after treatment with Function Generating Bite (FGB). Twenty children, (9 boys, 11 girls; age, mean ± SD, 7.5 ± 1.1), 10 with a right and 10 with a left posterior unilateral crossbite were selected. Mandibular movements during chewing soft and hard boluses were measured with a kinesiograph (K7 -I, Myotronics Inc. Tukwila, Washington, USA). The results showed a significant difference when comparing the percentage of reverse chewing patterns, before and after therapy with FGB, during chewing on the crossbite side both with soft and hard bolus (p<0.0001). No significant differences were observed during chewing on the non-crossbite side. The results of this study confirmed that FGB corrects both the dental and functional asymmetries. Knowing that the rapid palatal expansion does not correct the masticatory function, it is of clinical relevance, for the orthodontists, the knowledge and the understanding of the functional outcomes with different therapies. The type of treatment and the biomechanics of the appliance used are of great importance for the correction of the reverse chewing cycles and for rebalancing the functional asymmetry of children with unilateral posterior crossbite.
  Progress in orthodontics 01/2010; 11(2):138-44.
• Article: Effect of bolus hardness on the chewing pattern and activation of masticatory muscles in subjects with normal dental occlusion.

  Maria Grazia Piancino, Pietro Bracco, Teresa Vallelonga, Andrea Merlo, Dario Farina
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  ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of bolus hardness on the kinematic of mastication and jaw-elevator muscle activity in subjects with normal dental occlusion and function. The mandibular motion and the surface EMG envelope of the masseter and temporalis anterior muscles were assessed in twelve subjects during mastication of a soft and hard bolus of the same size. When chewing the hard bolus, the chewing pattern in the frontal plane was significantly higher and wider, with smaller closure angle and higher peak velocity than when chewing the soft bolus. EMG peak amplitude of both the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles was higher for the side of the bolus but the contralateral side increased its activity significantly more than the ipsilateral side when the hardness of the bolus increased (for the masseter, mean+/-SD: 130.4+/-108.1% increase for the contralateral side and 29.6+/-26.9% for the ipsilateral side). Moreover, the peak EMG activity for both muscles occurred more distant from the closure point with hard bolus. The increased activity of the contralateral side may help maintaining the mandibular equilibrium, with indirect participation to the power stroke generated by the chewing-side masseter. The results provide kinematic and EMG adaptations to bolus hardness in healthy subjects and can be used as normative data in the development of methods for early diagnosis of impaired chewing function.
  Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 08/2007; 18(6):931-7. · 1.97 Impact Factor
• Article: Slow or rapid palatal expansion for early treatment of unilateral posterior crossbite? Evaluation of the reverse chewing cycles correction

  Maria G. Piancino, Francesca Talpone, Teresa Vallelonga, Gianluigi Frongia, Cesare L. Debernardi, Pietro Bracco
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  ABSTRACT: ObjectivesIt is well established that patients with a unilateral posterior crossbite, when chewing on the affected side, show an increased frequency of reverse chewing cycles. It was hypothesized that the correction of reverse cycles may be due to the characteristics of the therapy. The aim was to investigate the prevalence of reverse chewing patterns in children with unilateral posterior crossbite before and after treatment with Function Generating Bite (FGB).Materials and methodsTwenty children, (9 boys, 11 girls; age, mean ± SD, 7.5 ± 1.1), 10 with a right and 10 with a left posterior unilateral crossbite were selected. Mandibular movements during chewing soft and hard boluses were measured with a kinesiograph (K7 -I, Myotronics Inc. Tukwila, Washington, USA).ResultsThe results showed a significant difference when comparing the percentage of reverse chewing patterns, before and after therapy with FGB, during chewing on the crossbite side both with soft and hard bolus (p < 0.0001). No significant differences were observed during chewing on the non-crossbite side.DiscussionThe results of this study confirmed that FGB corrects both the dental and functional asymmetries. Knowing that the rapid palatal expansion does not correct the masticatory function, it is of clinical relevance, for the orthodontists, the knowledge and the understanding of the functional outcomes with different therapies.ConclusionsThe type of treatment and the biomechanics of the appliance used are of great importance for the correction of the reverse chewing cycles and for rebalancing the functional asymmetry of children with unilateral posterior crossbite.RiassuntoObiettiviSappiamo dalla letteratura che i pazienti con un morso incrociato monolaterale posteriore, quando masticano dal lato affetto da crossbite, sviluppano una maggiore frequenza di cicli masticatori inversi. È stato ipotizzato che la correzione dei cicli inversi può dipendere dal tipo di terapia. L’obiettivo è stato studiare la prevalenza dei cicli masticatori inversi in bambini con morso incrociato posteriore monolaterale, prima e dopo il trattamento con Function Generating Bite (FGB).Materiali e metodiVenti bambini, (9 maschi, 11 femmine, di età, media ± SD, 7,5 ± 1,1), dei quali 10 con morso incrociato monolaterale a destra e 10 con morso incrociato monolaterale a sinistra sono stati selezionati. I movimenti mandibolari durante la masticazione del bolo molle e del bolo duro sono stati registrati con un kinesiografo (K7-I, Myotronics Inc. Tukwila, Washington, USA).RisultatiI risultati hanno mostrato una differenza significativa, confrontando la percentuale di cicli masticatori inversi, prima e dopo la terapia con FGB, durante la masticazione dal lato del morso incrociato sia con bolo molle che con bolo duro (p < 0,0001). Nessuna differenza significativa è stata osservata durante la masticazione dal lato sano prima e dopo terapia.DiscussioneI risultati di questo studio hanno confermato che l’apparecchio FGB corregge sia le asimmetrie dentali che funzionali. Sapendo che l’espansione rapida del palato non corregge la funzione masticatoria, è di rilevanza clinica, per gli ortodontisti, la conoscenza e la comprensione dei risultati funzionali con terapie diverse.ConclusioneIl tipo di trattamento e la biomeccanica dell’apparecchiatura utilizzata sono di grande importanza per la correzione dei cicli masticatori inversi e per il riequilibrio della dissimmetria funzionale nei bambini con morso incrociato monolaterale posteriore.RésuméObjectifLes patients ayant un articulé croisé postérieur unilatéral, au moment de la mastication dans le coté affecté, montrent une fréquence accrue de cycles de mastication inversée. C’est une donne consolidée. On a établi l’hypothèse que la correction des cycles inversés pouvait dépendre des caractéristiques du traitement. Le but a été donc de rechercher la prévalence des modèles de mastication inversée chez des enfants avec articulé croisé (cross-bite) postérieur unilatéral, avant et après le traitement avec le système Function Generating Bite (FGB).Matériels et methods20 enfants (9 garçons, 11 filles ; âge moyen ± ES 7.5 ± 1,1) ; on en a choisi 10 avec un articulé croisé unilatéral à droite et 10 à gauche. Les mouvements mandibulaires pendant la mastication de bols mous et de bols durs ont été mesurés à l’aide d’un kinésiographe (K7-I, Myotronics Inc. Tukwila, Washington, États-Unis).RésultatsLes résultats ont mis en évidence une différence significative lorsqu’on compare le pourcentage de modèles de mastication inversée, avant et après le traitement avec FGB, pendant la mastication aussi bien de bols durs que de bols mous, du côté du crossbite (p≤0,0001). Aucune différence significative n’a été observée pendant la mastication du côté sans cross-bite.DiscussionLes résultats de cette étude ont bien confirmé que le FGB corrige aussi bien les asymétries dentaires que fonctionnelles. En sachant que l’expansion palatine rapide ne corrige pas la fonction de mastication, les orthodontistes doivent être au courant et maîtriser les résultats fonctionnels des différents traitements.ConclusionsLe type de traitement et la biomécanique de l’appareil utilisé revêtent une importance cruciale pour la correction des cycles de mastication inversée et pour rééquilibrer l’asymétrie fonctionnelle chez les enfants présentant une occlusion croisée postérieure unilatérale.ResumenObjetivosEs sabido que los pacientes con una mordida cruzada posterior unilateral cuando mastican en la parte afectada tienen una frecuencia incrementada de ciclos masticatorios invertidos. Se estableció la hipótesis de que la corrección de los ciclos invertidos podía depender de las características del tratamiento. El objeto fue investigar la prevalencia de los patrones masticatorios invertidos en los niños con mordida cruzada posterior unilateral, antes y después del tratamiento con el sistema FGB (Function Generating Bite).Materiales y métodosFueron seleccionados 20 niños (9 chicos, 11 chicas; edad media ± DE 7.5 ± 1,1); 10 sujetos con mordida cruzada derecha y 10 sujetos con mordida cruzada izquierda. Los movimientos mandibulares durante la masticación de bolos duros y de bolos blandos fueron medidos por medio de un kinesiógrafo (K7-I, Myotronics Inc. Tukwila, Washington, EE UU).ResultadosLos resultados evidenciaron una diferencia significativa al comparar el porcentaje de patrones de masticación invertida, antes y después del tratamiento con FGB, en la masticación en el lado afectado, tanto con bolos duros como con bolos blandos (p≤0,0001). No se observó ninguna diferencia significativa en la masticación en el lado sin mordida cruzada.DiscusiónLos resultados de este estudio confirmaron que el sistema FGB corrige tanto las asimetrías dentarias como funcionales. A sabiendas de que la expansión palatina rápida no corrige la función masticatoria, para los ortodoncistas tiene gran relevancia clinica saber y entender los resultados funcionales de los diferentes tratamientos.ConclusionesEl tipo de tratamiento y la biomecánica del aparato utilizado tienen una marcada importancia para corregir los ciclos masticatorios invertidos y para reequilibrar la asimetría funcional en los niños que están afectados por mordida cruzada posterior unilateral.
  Progress in Orthodontics.