List of Articles by Author

NOTES:

*This author has been accepted with these names:

Blečić, Nataša
Blečić, D
Blečić, N

*Articles are cited according to Uniform Requirements by International Committee of Medical Journal Editors - ICMJE and NLM Style Guide for Authors, Editors and Publishers

Kovačević D, Delić Z, Kovač Z, Uhač I, Blečić N. Effect of Age and Ordinal Number of the Denture on Alveolar Bone Density Around Abutment Teeth with Claps. Acta Stomatol Croat. 2004;38(3):191-200.

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Title in English:	Effect of Age and Ordinal Number of the Denture on Alveolar Bone Density Around Abutment Teeth with Claps
Title in Croatian:	Utjecaj dobi i rednog broja proteze na gustoću alveolarne kosti oko zuba nosača kvačica
Type of Article:	original scientific paper
MeSH:	BONE DENSITY DENTURE, PARTIAL + adverse effects DENTAL ABUTMENTS
Abstract:	The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the age of the patient and ordinal number of partial dentures (PD) on alveolar bone density around abutment teeth with clasps.The study consisted of 50 subjects of both sexes, with PD. All examined teeth were radiographed twice by standard retroalveolar technique/recording within a period of three months. A copper calibrated peg, 0.1.0.5 mm thick, was stuck onto the X-ray film. Seven regions of interest (ROI) were chosen on each radiograph around the tooth root, 4 pixels in size. The method of intraoral microdensitometry according to Knezović-Zlatarić (1) was used to evaluate changes in alveolar bone density, by which the level of the grey regions of interest was converted into equivalent thickness of the copper pegs.The density of the alveolar bone in the examined ROI was analysed. Difference between the two radiographs was not statistically significant (ANOVA: p > 0.05) regardless of the age of the patient and ordinal number of the PD. However, in all the examined ROI a positive trend was registered of reduction in alveolar bone density at the second recording, without statistical significance.It can be concluded that neither age nor ordinal number of the dentures led to a significant reduction in alveolar bone density around the abutment teeth with clasps. However, because of the positive trend it is possible that during longitudinal monitoring of changes in alveolar bone density statistically significant difference may occur.

Uhač I, Kovač Z, Muhvić M, Blečić N, Gržić R, Kovačević D. Function of the Stomatognathic System in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorders. Acta Stomatol Croat. 2004;38(3):151-60.

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Title in English:	Function of the Stomatognathic System in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorders
Title in Croatian:	Funkcija stomatognatog sustava u oboljelih od posttraumatskog stresnog poremećaja
Type of Article:	original scientific paper
MeSH:	STRESS DISORDERS, POST TRAUMATIC TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDERS + etiology FACIAL PAIN + etiology
Abstract:	The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) in veterans of the War for Independence, who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD. The examined group consisted of 100 male subjects with a diagnosis of PTSD, who had participated in the war, and a control group of 94 subjects of the same age and sex who had not participated in the war and in whom psychiatric diagnosis excluded PTSD. The study consisted of case history data and a medical examination. The examination included a questionnaire in which subjects answered questions with yes−no answers. During the medical examination the condition of the jaw joints (sounds, sensitivity and pain during palpation of the jaw joint) and mastication muscles (sensitivity and pain during palpation of the masticatory muscles) was assessed and the functional ability of the stomatognathic system determined (maximal opening, maximal laterotrusion movement left and right and maximal protrusion with registration of eventual occurrence of pain or sound). Statistically significant difference was determined in almost all measured parameters. The subjects with PTSD had subjective symptoms and clinical signs of temporomandibular disfunction (TMD) significantly more frequently. Eighty-two percent (82%) of those with PTSD had at least one symptom and 98% at least one sign of dysfunction, compared with 23.91% and 50% respectively of the subjects in the control group. The most frequent sign in both groups was sound in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which occurred in 64% of subjects with PTSD and 17.3% of subjects in the control group. Statistically significant difference was also found in the limitation of maximal possible movements, i.e. the subjects with PTSD had significantly more often restricted movements in opening, left and right laterality and protrusion. The greatest differences between the groups related to parameters of pain. Namely, 52% of subjects with PTSD had painful TMJ and 91% had at least one painful muscular location. It can be concluded that correlation exists between PTSD and TMJ.

Uhač I, Kovač Z, Gržić R, Kovačević D, Girotto M, Blečić N, Šimunović-Šoškić M. The Relation Between Occlusion and Temporomandibular Disorders. Acta Stomatol Croat. 2003;37(3):384-5.

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Title in English:	The Relation Between Occlusion and Temporomandibular Disorders
Title in Croatian:	Odnos između okluzije i temporomandibularnih poremećaja
Type of Article:	congress abstract
MeSH:	TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDERS DENTAL OCCLUSION
Abstract:	The etiology of temporomandibular disorders and the role of occlusion, has still not been entirely clarified.The objective of this investigation was to determine the effect of occlusal relationship on the function of the stomatognathic system.A group of subjects, aged from 24-52 years (x = 35.03 ± 6.92) was examined. The number of teeth, the number of teeth in occlusion, type of occlusion (canine guided occlusion, group function and balanced occlusion) was determined by clinical examination. Overbite and overjet were measured. RCP position was determined by chinpoint technique and fixing by Lucia-jig. The sliding from RCP to IKP position was determined in the anteroposterior, vertical and lateral direction. A precise calliper was used to measure maximal jaw movement. Pain and sounds were registred. Temporomandibular joints, masticatory and neck muscles were palpated. Helkimo Occlusal, Anamnestic and Clinical Dysfunction Indexes (Index ofmandibular movement, index of TMJ function, Index of painful mandibular movements, index of muscular and TMJ pain) were calculated.3.21% of the subjects were without occlusal disorders (Oi0), 58.32% had moderate occlusal problems (OiI) and 38.56% had severe occlusal problems (OiII). When compared to Anamnestic and Clinical Dysfunction Index the Pearson ?2 test analysis shows that severe occlusal problems are not correlated to severe dysfunction. The difference between the groups is not statistically significant(p > 0.05).The results of this study suggest that occlusion does not have an influence on the occurrence of TMD.

Muhvić-Urek M, Uhač I, Blečić N, Kovač Z, Šimunović-Šoškić M, Antonić R, Borčić J. The influence of bruxism on mandibular movement. Acta Stomatol Croat. 2003;37(3):364-5.

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Kovačević D, Kovač Z, Uhač I, Gržić R, Delić Z, Blečić N. Influence of smoking on stomatognathic system in women with diabetes. Acta Stomatol Croat. 2003;37(3):349-50.

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Title in English:	Influence of smoking on stomatognathic system in women with diabetes
Title in Croatian:	Utjecaj pušenja na stomatognati sustav žena oboljelih od šećerne bolesti
Type of Article:	congress abstract
MeSH:	SMOKING + adverse effects STOMATOGNATHIC SYSTEM ORAL HEALTH DIABETES COMPLICATIONS
Abstract:	The aim of the study was to check the influence of smoking on the stomatognathic system in women with diabetes. Diabetes is metabolic disease that occurs as a result of disorders in creation or secretion of insulin, or its effect. On a weakened organism smoking will probably do more harm on the stomatognathic system then on a healthy one.Women with confirmed diagnosis of diabetes (N = 90) were divided into 2 groups: fertile women (N = 51) and women in the menopause and postmenopause (N = 39). All women completed the given paper forms on general data and their smoking habits. A clinical examination was performed using a stomatological mirror and parodontal probe. Clinical findings of the dental status, gingiva, parodontal tissue (bleeding sulcus index and depth of parodontal pockets) and the status of oral muscosa were evalued.Smoking did not show statistically significant influence on the dental status either on fertile women or on women in the menopause and postmenopause (p > 0.05). Clinical findings of the gingiva and parodontal tissue showed statistically significant difference in women in the menopause and postmenopause (p < 0.05) who smoke in relation to women who do not. In fertile women no statistically significant defference was found (p > 0.05). Clinical findings of oral muscosa were only analyzed in the age group of menopausal and postmenopausal women. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). In the group of fertile women analysis was not performed due to the small number of specimens.Weakened immunological system due to the synergistic influence of diabetes, smoking and the lack of feminine sex hormones (in the menopause and postmenopause) significantly damages oral muscosa, gingiva and parodontal tissue. The probable explanation was their firm correlation especially throughtout the blood circulation with the other parts of the organism. Smoking did not significantly influence the hard dental tissue, probably because of its inorganic origin and compact structure.

Gržić R, Kovač Z, Delić Z, Uhač I, Kovačević D, Blečić D, Šimunović-Šoškić M. Prevalence of Self-Reported Symptoms of TMD in a Population of Rijeka, Croatia. Acta Stomatol Croat. 2003;37(3):328.

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