title: Average chewing pattern improvements following Disclusion Time reduction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies involving electrognathographic (EGN) recordings of chewing improvements obtained following occlusal adjustment therapy are rare, as most studies lack 'chewing' within the research. The objectives of this study were to determine if reducing long Disclusion Time to short Disclusion Time with the immediate complete anterior guidance development (ICAGD) coronoplasty in symptomatic subjects altered their average chewing pattern (ACP) and their muscle function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine muscularly symptomatic subjects underwent simultaneous EMG and EGN recordings of right and left gum chewing, before and after the ICAGD coronoplasty. Statistical differences in the mean Disclusion Time, the mean muscle contraction cycle, and the mean ACP resultant from ICAGD underwent the Student's paired t-test (α = 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Disclusion Time reductions from ICAGD were significant (2.11-0.45 s. p = 0.0000). Post-ICAGD muscle changes were significant in the mean area (p = 0.000001), the peak amplitude (p = 0.00005), the time to peak contraction (p < 0.000004), the time to 50% peak contraction (p < 0.00001), and in the decreased number of silent periods per side (right p < 0.0000002; left p < 0.0000006). Post-ICAGD ACP changes were also significant; the terminal chewing position became closer to centric occlusion (p < 0.002), the maximum and average chewing velocities increased (p < 0.002; p < 0.00005), the opening and closing times, the cycle time, and the occlusal contact time all decreased (p < 0.004-0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The average chewing pattern (ACP) shape, speed, consistency, muscular coordination, and vertical opening improvements can be significantly improved in muscularly dysfunctional TMD patients within one week's time of undergoing the ICAGD enameloplasty. Computer-measured and guided occlusal adjustments quickly and physiologically improved chewing, without requiring the patients to wear pre- or post-treatment appliances.
authors.affiliation: a Former faculty, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine , Department of Restorative Dentistry , Boston , MA , USA.
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Kerstein
authors.affiliation: b BioResearch Associates Inc. , Milwaukee , WI , USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radke
mesh_terms: D003767:Dental Occlusion, Balanced; D003799:Dental Stress Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D019558:Occlusal Adjustment / Q000379:methods*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
keywords: Average chewing pattern (ACP); Disclusion Time Reduction; Electrognathography (EGN); Electromyography (EMG); ICAGD coronoplasty; ICAGD enameloplasty; T-Scan