Muscular activity disorders in relation to intentional occlusal interferences

Area of Science:

• Dental Science
• Neuromuscular Dentistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Occlusal interferences, or premature contacts, are a common dental issue.
• Their impact on jaw muscle activity and neuromuscular function requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of unilateral premature occlusal contacts on the electromyographic (EMG) activity of key jaw muscles.
• To evaluate the efficacy of T-Scan monitoring in conjunction with EMG for identifying occlusal interferences.

Main Methods:

• Electromyographic (EMG) activity of anterior temporal (AT), masseter (M), trapezius (T), and digastric (D) muscles was measured in 50 subjects during maximum voluntary contraction.
• Special occlusal interferences were introduced bilaterally and individually on each tooth.
• Muscular activity was simultaneously monitored using T-Scan technology.

Main Results:

• Premature contacts significantly reduced EMG activity in the AT, D, and M muscles, with the AT muscle showing the highest reduction (56%) at the upper right 2nd molar.
• Conversely, T muscle activity increased in response to artificial occlusal premature contacts, most notably at the upper right 1st bicuspid.
• These findings indicate that occlusal interferences can lead to significant neuromuscular disruptions and muscular discrepancies.

Conclusions:

• Occlusal interferences can cause substantial neuromuscular disruptions, leading to muscular imbalances.
• Both EMG and T-Scan monitoring are effective tools for identifying premature occlusal contacts in clinical dental practice.