Long-term electromyography as a possible diagnostic aid for detecting craniomandibular dysfunctions

As there is a positive correlation between oral parafunctional habits and craniomandibular disorders, objective electromyographic findings on parafunctional jaw activities could be very interesting for the diagnosis and management of craniomandibular disorders. The described pocket-sized and battery-operated electromyographic measuring device fulfils the essential requirements for monitoring and recording parafunctional activity in a chosen time period. It is easy to handle and can therefore be operated by a trained patient. At the end of the registration the collected data are transferred to a computer for statistical or graphical analysis. With this device, long-term electromyography on patients in their usual environment is possible. Further studies on parafunctional behaviours applying long-term electromyography could increase the understanding of craniomandibular disorders.