title: Silent period-dentate, edentulous, and patients with craniomandibular dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The record of electrical activity of elevator muscles in mandible is important for the evaluation of muscular potency and diagnosis of neuromuscular pathologies, which allows prevention and treatment. The aim of this study was to define silent periods (SPs) and the importance in dentistry and compare the SPs in masticatory muscles of dentate and edentulous patients wearing prosthesis considering the presence or absence of craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review in PubMed database.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Silent periods are isolated pulses of transcranial magnetic stimulation in the primary motor cortex during voluntary muscular activity that generates an interruption of muscular activity for hundredths of milliseconds. The SP duration depends on the patient (dentate or edentulous), type of stimulus, and presence of CMD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SP is higher in complete edentulous patients and in individuals with occlusal disharmonies than in dentate patients without CMDs. The treatment of CMDs through occlusal therapy decreases SP duration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, São Paulo State University, Araçatuba Dental School, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil. goiato@foa.unesp.br
authors.forename: Marcelo Coelho
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Goiato
authors.forename: Marcela Filiè
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: Daniela Micheline
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Alício Rosalino
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Paulo Renato Junqueira
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Zuim
authors.forename: Adriana Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Zavanelli
mesh_terms: D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation