Clinical Research Directory

Predication of Arterial Stiffness in Healthy Adults by Oral Health and Chewing Assessments

INN.oral.HEALTH is an sub-study embedded in the Innsbruck Health Promotion Program (INN.HEALTH). The study investigates whether oral health, oral structure, and oral function provide additional information for understanding vascular health in adults from the general population. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke, remain major causes of death and disability. Many risk factors, including blood pressure, blood lipids, blood sugar, smoking, physical activity, sleep, and diet, are already known to influence vascular health. However, oral health may also be related to vascular risk. Conditions such as tooth loss, impaired chewing, reduced tongue strength, or oral disease burden may reflect or contribute to general health and vascular ageing, but their additional value in prevention programs is not yet well understood. The main hypothesis of this study is that a standardized oral structure and function profile can improve the explanation of central arterial stiffness beyond established cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle-related health metrics (INN.HEALTH study). Central arterial stiffness will be assessed using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, a marker of vascular ageing and cardiovascular risk. Participants will undergo a single oral assessment during Visit 4 of the INN.HEALTH study. The assessment includes screening of oral health status, dentition, bite force, tongue pressure, chewing efficiency, chewing and swallowing performance, questionnaires on oral health-related quality of life and food avoidance, and measurement of masseter muscle thickness. The study does not involve any treatment. The results may help clarify whether oral structural and functional markers can contribute to future vascular risk assessment and prevention strategies in the general adult population.

Masticatory Efficiency, Bite Force, and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients Rehabilitated With Complete and Partial Dentures Supported by Teeth, Mini-Implants, or Conventional Implants

This study aims to evaluate masticatory efficiency, bite force, and patient-reported outcomes in edentulous and partially edentulous patients rehabilitated with different removable prosthodontic treatment modalities. The study includes both cross-sectional and longitudinal components. The cross-sectional component will compare patients wearing conventional complete dentures, conventional removable partial dentures, mini-implant-retained overdentures, conventional implant-retained overdentures, and implant-assisted removable partial dentures. The longitudinal component will assess changes in masticatory performance, bite force, and patient-reported outcomes following prosthodontic rehabilitation and adaptation over time. The study seeks to determine whether implant-assisted treatment options provide superior functional outcomes, oral health-related quality of life, and patient satisfaction compared with conventional removable prostheses.

Orofacial Functions and Masticatory Function in Children With Different Types of Deterioration in Oral Health

This project aims at studying the evolution of masticatory function (food bolus granulometry, masticatory behavior, muscle activity and masticatory performance) during oral rehabilitation, in children with different types of oral health impairment. Secondary objectives are to study the relationships between children masticatory function (food bolus granulometry, masticatory behavior, muscle activity and masticatory performance) and its evolution during oral rehabilitation, and: * their type of oral health alteration * their eating behaviors * their height and weight status During examination the following parameters are collected: * Various clinical indicators of oral health * The child's weight and height * Frequency and nature of orofacial dysfunctions * The oral health related quality of life of children and their families * Chewing tests are performed (chewing gum, natural food such as carrot, cereals, and cheese samples, samples of gelatins of different hardness) Examination and differents tests are performed every six months for a total of 5 years (per participant) The dental care procedures performed during the study were carried out in the usual way.