title: Occlusal force, electromyographic activity of masticatory muscles and mandibular flexure of subjects with different facial types.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate whether vertical facial patterns influence maximal occlusal force (MOF), masticatory muscle electromyographic (EMG) activity, and medial mandibular flexure (MMF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-eight dentate subjects were divided into 3 groups by Ricketts's analysis: brachyfacial, mesofacial and dolychofacial. Maximum occlusal force in the molar region was bilaterally measured with a force transducer. The electromyographic activities of the masseter and anterior temporal muscles were recorded during maximal voluntary clenching. Medial mandibular flexure was calculated by subtracting the intermolar distance of maximum opening or protrusion from the distance in the rest position. The data were analyzed using ANOVA followed by Tukey's HSD test. The significance level was set at 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data on maximum occlusal force showed that shorter faces had higher occlusal forces (P<0.0001). Brachyfacial subjects presented higher levels of masseter electromyographic activity and medial mandibular flexure, followed by the mesofacial and dolychofacial groups. Additionally, dolychofacial subjects showed significantly lower electromyographic temporalis activities (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the limitations of the study, it may be concluded that maximum occlusal force, masticatory muscle activity and medial mandibular flexure were influenced by the vertical facial pattern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Custodio
authors.forename: Simone Guimarães Farias
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Faot
authors.forename: Renata Cunha Matheus Rodrigues
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Altair Antoninha
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Del Bel Cury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D001732:Bite Force; D002508:Cephalometry; D004576:Electromyography; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000502:physiology*; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D014716:Vertical Dimension; D055815:Young Adult