IADR Abstract Archives
Muscular Activation in Open Bite Patients
Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the electromyographic activity of masticatory muscles of patients with anterior dental open bite malocclusion compared with a control group of subjects with normal occlusion.
Methods: 73 patients were selected for the study: 52 young patients (23 boys and 29 girls; mean age ± SD 11.5 ± 1.2 and 10.2 ± 1.6 years), with dentoalveolar anterior open bite,1 mm or more, and 21 subjects with normal occlusion (mean age ± SD 11.9 ± 0.6 years of age).
Surface EMG signals were recorded from masticatory muscles using a multichannel electromyograph that is part of the K7-I WIN Diagnostic System . Four electrodes were located on masseter and anterior temporalis muscles of both sides. The patients were instructed to chew a soft bolus and a hard bolus, deliberately on right and left sides and then non-deliberately. The duration of each test was 10 seconds and each set was repeated three times.
To summarize the subject’s performance the median value was computed for each variable. For each variable, results from both cases and controls were then compared by the Wilcoxon rank sum test, with the statistical significance set at 0.05.
Results: The results showed a statistically difference (P<0.05) between open bite patients and control group, during chewing a hard bolus, on the right and left side: the EMG peak of anterior temporalis and the EMG peak of the masseter of the bolus side resulted significantly lower in the patient group.
Conclusions: In this study it has been observed that open bite patients show lower muscular activation with respect to the control group. In the light of the recent results regarding the influence of masticatory function on memory and cognition, patients with this malocclusion need a special attention to improve the balance of mastication.
Methods: 73 patients were selected for the study: 52 young patients (23 boys and 29 girls; mean age ± SD 11.5 ± 1.2 and 10.2 ± 1.6 years), with dentoalveolar anterior open bite,1 mm or more, and 21 subjects with normal occlusion (mean age ± SD 11.9 ± 0.6 years of age).
Surface EMG signals were recorded from masticatory muscles using a multichannel electromyograph that is part of the K7-I WIN Diagnostic System . Four electrodes were located on masseter and anterior temporalis muscles of both sides. The patients were instructed to chew a soft bolus and a hard bolus, deliberately on right and left sides and then non-deliberately. The duration of each test was 10 seconds and each set was repeated three times.
To summarize the subject’s performance the median value was computed for each variable. For each variable, results from both cases and controls were then compared by the Wilcoxon rank sum test, with the statistical significance set at 0.05.
Results: The results showed a statistically difference (P<0.05) between open bite patients and control group, during chewing a hard bolus, on the right and left side: the EMG peak of anterior temporalis and the EMG peak of the masseter of the bolus side resulted significantly lower in the patient group.
Conclusions: In this study it has been observed that open bite patients show lower muscular activation with respect to the control group. In the light of the recent results regarding the influence of masticatory function on memory and cognition, patients with this malocclusion need a special attention to improve the balance of mastication.
