Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
generation of the structure may take place, which is signaled by the
patient in the form of pain.
The whole adaptation process is controlled by the central
nervous system due to the well innervated periodontium, muscles,
oral mucosa, articulations, and tooth pulp. All the information
from the peripheral nerves located in the tissues is forwarded later
on to the central nervous system. A vital role in the function of
proprioception encompasses the muscle spindles and Golgi tendon
organs. In a narrow connotation, it can be said that these organs play
an intermediate role, by passing information on the instantaneous
length of the muscle in which they are located to the CNS. They help
in keeping the proportion between muscles tension and stretch and
have a part in the control of muscular contraction. In other words,
the proprioreceptors may change the activity of the masticatory
muscles and adapt the force of the mastication to the physiological
limits of the tissues. This mechanism in physiological circumstances
protects from the negative factors.
However, when the loss or a change in one of the tissues occurs, it
may exceed the adaptive limits of other structures, leading to further
disability and collapse of function of the whole unit. At some point,
the process speeds up and rapid breakdown ensues.
To discuss the therapeutic or reconstructive issues of the
stomatognathic system needs a good knowledge of the morphology
and function of all elements. For this purpose we usually use
materials, which would be capable of reconstructing the disable
tissue, due to aging process, trauma or disease, and taking other its
function. Biomedical engineering has rapidly developed over the past
years, creating analogs of the tissues but is still far from perfection
[9]. Improving the quality of life is a rewarding goal for scientists
and engineers. One of the ields of science is based on understanding
the relationship between the human system and the environment.
Indeed, those ields of research and new technologies in the ield of
rehabilitation improve the quality of life for disabled as well as abled
patients.
Most of the global population, sooner or later, needs a repair or
reconstruction within the craniofacial region [4]. It may be caused by
a minor pathological process, such as a dental caries occurring in a
tooth, or an oncological process leading to a resection of the tissues.
Most of the human tissues are hybrid, such as the tooth composed
of enamel, dentine, cementum, and pulp tissue. Therefore material
