Masticatory muscle activity in different jaw relations during submaximal clenching efforts

The EMG activities of the masseter muscles and the anterior and posterior parts of the temporalis muscles were investigated in different vertical and sagittal jaw relations. Surface EMG recordings were made. Relative muscle activities were quantified by means of the Activity Index and the Asymmetry Index. Ten subjects with a healthy masticatory system were asked to clench at 10% and 50% of their maximum voluntary clenching level. Registrations were made during clenching in the intercuspal position, on a thin stabilization splint (SSP, 1-2 mm increase of vertical dimension at first molar), on a thick stabilization splint (3 mm thicker at the incisal edge relative to SSP), and on a protrusive re-positioning splint (3 mm protrusive to SSP). The masseter EMG amplitudes were the same for all the jaw positions investigated. However, at the 10% clenching level, the temporalis muscle activity decreased after the vertical dimension was raised and decreased further after the mandible was protrusively positioned (p less than 0.01). An independent function for the posterior and the anterior parts of the temporalis muscle was not found in any of the intermaxillary jaw relations investigated. At the 50% clenching level, a decrease in anterior temporalis muscle activity was observed only with the protrusive position in relation to the other three positions. Also at this level, the index relating the activity of the anterior to that of the posterior part of the temporalis muscle was not different between jaw positions. Raising the vertical dimension and protrusive positioning of the mandible decrease the activity of the temporalis muscles. This may be a factor related to the therapeutic effect of the stabilization splint in the treatment of craniomandibular disorder patients.