title: Electromyographic activity of the jaw muscles and mandibular kinematics in young adults with theoretically ideal dental occlusion: Reference values.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A necessary step to use neuromuscular analysis as diagnostic tool is to establish normal reference values for the physiological range in a healthy population. Surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity of the jaw muscles and mandibular kinematics were measured in young adults with theoretically ideal dental occlusion to determine normal reference values during different tasks. Differences between the sexes were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty young adults (20 men, 20 women; mean age 22.8 ± 3.9 years) with theoretically ideal dental occlusion were selected using very restrictive criteria. sEMG activity of the anterior temporalis (AT), posterior temporalis, masseter (MA), and suprahyoid muscles were evaluated in the rest position and during swallowing, mastication, and clenching. Mandibular kinematics in the rest position and during maximum excursions were assessed. Asymmetry, activity, and torque indices and MA/AT ratios were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For all muscles, sEMG values were 1.01-3.57 µV at rest, 3.50-10.85 µV during swallowing, and 41.04-86.59 µV during mastication. During clenching, values were 230.08-243.55 µV for the AT and MA muscles. Mean total asymmetry, activity, and torque indices at rest were 20.34 %, -15.04 %, and 19.02 %, respectively; during clenching, these values were 6.14 %, -2.62 %, and 4.46 %. MA/AT ratios were near 1. Kinematic measurements during lateral excursion, protrusive and maximum opening were 7.54, 8.44, and 37.38 mm respectively; lateral mandibular shift was 1.41 mm; free way and lateral displacement at rest were 1.40 and 0.26 mm. Right MA activity during mastication and clenching was higher in men than women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reference values for sEMG activity and mandibular kinematics were determined. Some muscular asymmetry and torque were observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology IV, School of Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Plaza de Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain, conchitamartin@odon.ucm.es.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Campillo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: A-D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.forename: J-A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Alarcón
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000502:physiology*; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult