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Mouth opening is measured as a MIO or ROM distance. MIO (maximal interincisal 

opening) is the distance between the central incisors when the mouth is fully open. 

Average MIO for adults is approx. 50mm. By measuring MIO, a therapist can determine

if a patient is WNL or has trismus. ROM (Range-of-Motion) is the maximum distance

the mandible moves. ROM and MIO may be different, e.g. patients with an open bite.                        

MEET RAFAEL! Rafael is using the DynaCleft® pre-operative positioning system for improved functional and cosmetic surgical outcomes. Cleft lip and palate is the most common craniofacial abnormality.

BIG NEWS! Tongueometer Bluetooth device now available for iOS and Android devices. Increase tongue strength and endurance with an easy to use, affordable device. 

                  

A review of a few of the wonderful nonprofit organizations within the HNC, dysphagia and craniofacial communities to support patients as they face these challenges.

DynaClose strips are designed to close skin defects up to 5cm in width. The strips are clear elastomeric anchored by an adhesive fabric tape on either side. They provide an easy and non-invasive method to close retracted or dehisced wounds.

DynaStretch strips are designed to provide external pre-surgical skin expansion over an area of planned excision up to 5cm wide. New surplus skin may be consistent with the surrounding tissue and can be used to span a tissue defect created by surgical excision.

Spring 2020 Newsletter ORAL MUCOSITIS IN HEAD & NECK CANCER PATIENTS Oral Mucositis occurs in up to 80% of HNC irradiated patients! What is oral mucositis (OM)? Mucositis is the inflammation,

Head & neck cancer patients often develop acute and chronic xerostomia and dry mouth.  Learn more about the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of xerostomia and dry mouth.  

An often neglected burden of HNC survivorship is that on the psychological effects of head and neck cancer on both the patients and caregivers. How can we, the providers, help?

Radiation, commonly used in the treatment of head and neck cancer, may negatively affect healthy cells by increasing the production of the protein, fibrin which damages soft tissues in the treatment field potentially leading to trismus, or limited mouth opening. Trismus affects patients negatively by making it difficult to speak, eat, maintain good oral hygiene, receive dental procedures and it even has the potential to complicate intubation. In patients that receive radiation treatments, approximately 30% will develop trismus. If the treatment field includes the pterygoid or masseter muscles incidence rises to above 80%. Loss of maximal interincisal opening (MIO) is continual and progressive in these patients. Therapeutic exercises will need to continue for the rest of the patient's life! The good news is that trismus is preventable and treatable with exercise therapy using jaw motion rehab systems such as the OraStretch press. 

CranioRehab Update & Research Refresh. Review "Correlation Between Radiation Dose to Pterygoid and Masseter Muscles with Trismus" and "Successful Rehab of Facial Burns Using Jaw Motion Rehab Systems Including the OraStretch Press". Learn about CranioRehab products.

Xerostomia, "dry mouth" is due to reduced or absent saliva production. It may affect a patient's quality of life and can lead to serious health problems! Learn about the signs, symptoms and managing xerostomia. 

What is a cleft lip? What is a cleft palate? What causes these openings to occur? What are the risk factors for cleft lip/cleft palate? What are the health implications? Learn more, including diagnosis and treatment options.

Trismus, or restriction to mouth opening, has many implications including difficulty speaking, eating, maintaining oral hygiene, receiving dental procedures and may even affect intubation. Typical measure of mouth opening is 50 mm and highly correlated to body size. An opening of 35mm or less is considered trismus. Trismus is preventable and treatable by engaging in exercise therapy and treatment using jaw motion rehab systems such as the OraStretch® press.