Disturbances in the contraction and co-ordination pattern of the masticatory muscles due to dental restorations. An...

Recent Swedish publications report that a large number of patients suffer from the mandibular dysfunction syndrome. Some theories assume that this syndrome is the result of a disturbance in blood flow through the maxillary artery. The present authors suggest, that the syndrome is caused by a disturbance in the pattern of contraction of the masticatory muscles. This hypothesis is based on the assumption that the human periodontal membrane contains mechanoreceptors which are able to exert reflex control over the pattern of contraction of the muscles during chewing. If the pattern of stimulation of these receptors is modified following dental restoration, then this could result in a disturbance of the neuromuscular pattern of the masticatory apparatus. In order to test this hypothesis, an electromyographic study was carried out in three volunteers and eight patients. The results of this study support the view that there are receptors in the human periodontal membrane which are able to control the pattern of contraction of the masticatory muscles. The hypothesis that the mandibular dysfunction syndrome is the result of a disturbance in the pattern of contraction of these muscles is pursued further in the discussion.