New Advances in Masticatory Function

Dear Colleagues,

Following the success of the previous Special Issue titled “New Frontiers in Masticatory Function”, the Editor kindly gave me the option to continue serving as the Guest Editor with this new Special Issue, “New Advances in Masticatory Function”, aimed at further updating this expanding field of research. The importance of this Special Issue resides in the impact of mastication on growth and cognition during development and on physical and mental health in the course of aging. In the last 15 years, reduced mastication has been consistently shown to be associated with reduced neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation, and survival in the hippocampus of laboratory animals, with deleterious effects on memory and spatial orientation, in a specific and stress-independent way. Recently, important clinical studies regarding the positive role of mastication in slowing down cognitive decay (confirming the basic results in animals) have been published. These results motivate us to continue the research in this field. Indeed, while our knowledge has been much improved in the last few years, further research is required to establish a deeper understanding of these phenomena. Therefore, it is important to continue updating and expanding our knowledge of this important function for the future of our ever-changing societies.

This new Special Issue will welcome basic and clinical research on the following topics:

1. Functional alterations associated with dental and skeletal malocclusions;
2. Functional outcomes of orthognathodontic treatment;
3. Functional outcomes of prosthodontic treatment;
4. Functional outcomes of orthognathic surgery;
5. Postural balance and craniofacial morphology;
6. Muscular activation during chewing;
7. Temporomandibular joint function and dysfunction;
8. Biomolecular features of the stomatognathic apparatus;
9. Neurological disorder and masticatory function.

Prof. Dr. Maria Grazia Piancino
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• mastication
• chewing cycles
• electromyography
• hippocampus
• cognitive activity
• malocclusions
• mechanoreceptors
• masseter Integrins
• mastication and Temporo-mandibular joint disfunction
• bolus consistency
• cranial growth