Effect of a prefabricated anterior bite stop on electromyographic activity of masticatory muscles.
BACKGROUND
Patients are often treated for signs and symptoms in the masticatory musculature, which may be manifested as pain and/or conditions that cause difficulty in recording jaw relation records. A quick, easy method to alleviate these signs and symptoms would be helpful.


OBJECTIVE
This study measured the effect of a prefabricated anterior bite stop on the electromyographic activity of the anterior temporalis, posterior temporalis, masseter and anterior digastric during clenching, and grinding tasks.


METHODS
A prefabricated anterior bite stop was fabricated for 30 randomly selected subjects. Electromyographic surface electrodes were placed on the right and left sides of these muscles. Electromyographic activity was measured during clenching and grinding both with and without the anterior bite stop.


RESULTS
The anterior bite stop had a significant effect in decreasing electromyographic activity for both clenching and grinding for all the tested muscles, except the anterior digastric.


CONCLUSIONS
For this patient population, the ready-made anterior bite stop reduced electromyographic muscle activity for the anterior and posterior temporalis and the masseter muscles during both clenching and grinding.
Becker
I
I
The Pankey Institute For Advanced Dental Education, Key Biscayne, FL 33149, USA. LDPI@gak.net
Tarantola
G
G
Zambrano
J
J
Spitzer
S
S
Oquendo
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004576:Electromyography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D017090:Occlusal Splints / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D013997:Time Factors