Luz Saúde : Hospital da Luz Stomatologist Distinguished with Anatomical Society Award

Hospital da Luz Stomatologist Distinguished with Anatomical Society Award

David Ângelo, stomatologist from Hospital da Luz Setúbal, was distinguished with the annual award of the Portuguese Anatomical Society, for a research in the scope of the temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

Temporomandibular joint is where the mandible (inferior maxilla) is articulated with the temporal bone (skull). This is a complex joint, the most used in the human body (2,000 times a day, on average), and in case of dysfunction, its movement causes intense pain to patients - who, in the most severe cases, become unable to perform simple day-to-day tasks, such as talking and chewing.

In the most severe cases, it may be necessary to remove the articular disc, which is fundamental for the harmonious functioning of the temporomandibular joint. In his research, David Ângelo tried to find a biodisc that could be used to regenerate a new disc in this joint. In the work now distinguished, he studied the most adequate animal model to test this disc - the black merino sheep.

The award for Research in Morphological Sciences was presented to David Ângelo last October 14, at Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, from Universidade da Beira Interior (Covilhã), in the scope of the 51st Scientific Meeting of the Portuguese Anatomical Society and the 4th Scientific Meeting of the Portuguese Anatomical Association.