title: Neuromuscular evaluation of post-orthodontic stability: an experimental protocol.
abstract: To prevent relapse after orthodontic treatment, retention is often considered indispensable. Soft tissues are thought to have a significant influence on dental movements. To quantify the influence of masticatory muscles on post-treatment relapse, and in an attempt to avoid unnecessary procedures, 2 male orthodontic patients (13 and 30 years old at debonding) were followed up. The patients completed 2 years of fixed orthodontic treatment and received no post-orthodontic retention. After 1 week and again after 6 months, alginate impressions of dental arches and a surface electromyographic (EMG) assessment of the masseter and temporalis muscles during maximum voluntary clenching were performed. The younger patient received surface EMG monitoring once a month for the first 6 months and at the 1-year follow-up appointment. Arch dimensions and the 3-dimensional inclination of the facial axis of the clinical crown (FACC) were measured using a computerized digitizer. Symmetry in muscular contraction was measured by the percentage overlapping coefficient (POC), and potential lateral displacing components were assessed by the torque coefficient (TC). At the 6-month follow-up, no clinical modifications were observed. Quantitative evaluation assessed that arch dimensions had changed slightly (up to 1 mm). While the adolescent patient had no modifications in FACC inclinations, the 30-year-old patient showed significant alterations (up to 18 degrees). In all examinations of the adolescent patient, POC was higher than 86% and TC was lower than 10%. In the adult, POC was inside the normal range, while all TCs were higher than 10.5%. The larger TC measured in the adult may explain the larger modifications in the 3-dimensional position of his dental crowns. In conclusion, a surface EMG assessment may help in the detection of patients who might need post-orthodontic retention.
authors.affiliation: Functional Anatomy Research Center (FARC), Dipartimento di Anatomia Umana Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Facoltà di Scienze Motorie Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy. farc@unimi.it
authors.forename: Virgilio F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Ferrario
authors.forename: Paolo V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Marciandi
authors.forename: Gianluca M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Tartaglia
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dellavia
authors.forename: Chiarella
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sforza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001732:Bite Force; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D019415:Torque