title: Craniomandibular disorders, edentulousness and the clinically estimated size of the masseter muscle.
abstract: A total of 355 postmenopausal women were classified according to the degree of edentulousness, and anamnestic information on masticatory dysfunction symptoms was recorded. Five masticatory muscles were palpated, and the subjects were classified according to size of the masseter muscle. This simple classification for the clinical inspection of the masseter muscle was tested. In agreement with previous reports, decreasing functional exercise of the jaws was found to diminish the size of the masticatory muscles making them more disposed to dysfunction symptoms. The three-level classification of size of the masseter muscle is useful in normal clinical practice for determining the condition of this muscle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetics and Stomatognathic Physiology, University of Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klemetti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heikelä
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017271:Craniomandibular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*