Faculty Bibliography

Numerous studies suggest a sexual predilection for temporomandibular disorders. The purpose of this article is to review and summarize patient-oriented and basic science studies that address the topic of a female predilection for temporomandibular disorders. The information presented provides oral and maxillofacial surgery practitioners with evidence-based data to suggest a female predilection for temporomandibular disorders based on biologic, genetic, and behavioral/psychosocial factors

PURPOSE: To document a clinically relevant position of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) in dentate patients and identify patient factors associated with IAN position. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The investigators used a cross-sectional study design and a study sample of subjects who had a radiographically identifiable IAN canal and at least 1 mandibular first molar was enrolled. Predictor variables were age, gender, and race. Outcome variables were the linear distances between the buccal aspect of the IAN canal and the outer buccal cortical margin of the mandible, and the superior aspect of the IAN canal and the alveolar crest. Appropriate uni-, bi-, and multivariate statistics were computed. RESULTS: The study sample was composed of 50 patients with a mean age of 42 years, 42.0% were male, and 73.2% were white. On average, the buccal aspect of the canal was 4.9 mm from the buccal cortical margin of the mandible. The superior aspect of the IAN canal was 17.4 mm inferior from the alveolar crest. Age and race were statistically associated with IAN position relative to the buccal cortical mandibular margin (P<.05). None of the demographic variables were associated with vertical position. CONCLUSIONS: The IAN canal was 4.9 mm and 17.4 mm from the buccal and superior cortical surfaces of the mandible, respectively. The bucco-lingual IAN canal position was associated with age and race. Older patients and white patients, on average, have less distance between the buccal aspect of the canal and the buccal mandibular border. To minimize the risk of IAN injury, these variables should be considered when planning mandibular osteotomies or using monocortical plates

PURPOSE: Entubulization is a well known method of nerve repair for defects too large to be reconstructed by direct suturing without tension. Vein grafts and alloplastic tubes have been used for entubulization in peripheral and cranial nerves, but the mechanism by which they promote healing is poorly understood. The overall hypothesis of this laboratory is that nerve growth factor (NGF) plays an important role in nerve regeneration after entubulization with a vein graft. The purpose of this pilot study was to localize NGF protein expression in the rat femoral vein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sciatic nerves and femoral veins were harvested from adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Femoral arteries were also collected and used for comparison and validation of the analysis. All specimens were fixed in paraformaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. Specimens were either stained with hematoxylin and eosin or used for immunohistochemical reaction with anti-NGF antibody. RESULTS: Sciatic nerve was used as a positive control to identify the monofascicular architecture with hematoxylin and eosin and to document the positive immunohistochemical reaction. NGF immunoreactivity was present in the tunica intima and tunica adventitia of femoral vein and artery but not in the tunica media. CONCLUSION: The results of this pilot study indicate that NGF is detectable in both the intimal and adventitial layers of the rat femoral vein and artery but not in the smooth muscle wall. These findings suggest that vein grafts could potentially promote nerve regeneration by supplying NGF to the injured nerve