title: Effect of experimental horizontal mandibular deviation on dynamic balance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are two aspects of human balance: static balance and dynamic balance. However, to the author's knowledge, no studies have investigated how changes in the stomatognathic system influence dynamic balance. This aim of this study was to determine the effect of horizontal mandibular deviation on stability of upright posture on an unstable platform in order to clarify the relationship between the stomatognathic system and the dynamic balance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen healthy adult participants were selected. To determine the effect of changes in the stomatognathic system on dynamic balance, three experimental conditions were established: a resting mandibular position, a position in which experimental horizontal mandibular deviation was maintained by a splint, and a mandibular rest position maintained by a splint. Each participant was instructed to stand in a natural upright posture on an unstable board, and resulting variation in angle of the board was then measured. Measurements were taken 15 times under each condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Variation in angle of inclination of the board as dynamic balance was the largest in the splint-maintained deviated mandibular position.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Horizontal deviation in mandibular position interfered with stability of upright posture on an unstable platform, suggesting that changes in the stomatognathic system affect dynamic balance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Dentistry, Tokyo Dental College, 1-2-2 Masago, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-0011, Japan. sportsdent.shimpachi@me.com
authors.forename: Shimpachi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wakano
authors.forename: Tomotaka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Katsuhide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurokawa
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishigami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000502:physiology*; D018704:Orthodontic Retainers; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D013284:Stomatognathic System / Q000502:physiology*; D014716:Vertical Dimension; D055815:Young Adult