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Effects of local anesthesia on bite force generation and electromyographic activity
T J Teenier1, G S Throckmorton, E Ellis
1Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.
Summary
Local anesthesia of the teeth did not significantly affect maximum voluntary bite force or jaw muscle activity. Sensory input from the dentition may not be critical for generating bite force in adults.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Biomechanics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Maximum voluntary bite force is a key metric for assessing functional outcomes after orthognathic surgery.
- Previous research suggests dentition sensory input influences bite force, but findings on local anesthesia effects are contradictory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of drug-induced local anesthesia on first molar bite force and electromyographic (EMG) activity in adults.
- To clarify the role of dental sensory input in modulating masticatory forces.
Main Methods:
- Twenty healthy adults underwent bilateral monitoring of four masticatory muscles' EMG activity.
- Bite force was recorded at the first molars before and after unilateral mandibular and maxillary anesthesia with 2% lidocaine with epinephrine.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant differences in bite force were found between anesthetized and unanesthetized sides.
- Integrated EMG levels showed no significant changes between sides or at varying anesthesia depths.
- Local anesthesia of the dentition did not alter maximal or submaximal bite force generation.
Conclusions:
- Local anesthesia of the teeth does not significantly impact maximal voluntary bite force or associated EMG activity in adults.
- Sensory input from the dentition may play a limited role in the generation of first molar bite force.