Electromyographic comparisons between clenching, swallowing and chewing in jaw muscles with varying occlusal parameters.
The aim of this study is to determine the influence of Angle molar class, presence of a posterior crossbite, anterior guidance, as well as gender in the muscular activity of the masticatory system in a population of healthy dental students.


METHODS
Surface electromyography recordings are made for the masseter, anterior and posterior temporalis and digastric muscles; in three different tests: clenching at maximum intercuspation, swallowing and chewing.


RESULTS
The results obtained show that: men achieve a higher masseter activity at maximum effort than women. Women achieve higher values than men, for the digastric muscles in deglution. Angle class II show higher activity than other classes for the temporalis muscle in deglution, while class III show higher activity than other classes for all muscles in maximum effort. The anterior guidance does not cause significant differences. The presence of a posterior crossbite affects the behaviour of anterior temporalis and masseter muscles.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study show the influence of the occlusal parameters on the muscular activity of the stomatognatic system.
Moreno
Isabel
I
Department of Bucofacial Prosthesis, Faculty of Odontology, University Complutense Madrid, Spain. isabellehay@yahoo.es
Sánchez
Teresa
T
Ardizone
Ignacio
I
Aneiros
Fernando
F
Celemin
Alicia
A
D000328:Adult; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007568:Jaw; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*