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Perioral muscle activity changes after Lip Bumper treatment
L Nucci1, P M Marra1, L Femiano1
1Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties. University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
Insights
Lip Bumper (LB) treatment significantly reduced lip muscle activity in young patients after one year. This orthodontic intervention led to muscle adaptation at rest and during swallowing.
Area of Science:
- Orthodontics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Physiology
Background:
- Lip muscle activity plays a crucial role in oral function and facial aesthetics.
- Orthodontic interventions like the Lip Bumper (LB) aim to modify dental and skeletal relationships.
- Understanding the impact of LB treatment on lip muscle function is essential for evaluating its efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze lip muscle activity using surface electromyography (sEMG) in young patients undergoing Lip Bumper (LB) treatment.
- To compare lip muscle activity in treated patients with a control group over a one-year period.
Main Methods:
- Prospective non-randomised case-control study involving 40 young patients treated with LB and 40 matched controls.
- sEMG measurements were recorded at baseline and after one year, during rest and swallowing.
- Analysis focused on upper and lower lip muscle activity with and without the LB appliance.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant decrease in upper lip muscle activity at rest was observed after one year of LB treatment (p <0.002).
- Significant reductions in lower lip muscle activity were found both with (p <0.001) and without (p <0.001) the appliance in situ.
- These findings suggest a notable adaptation of lip muscles to the altered oral environment.
Conclusions:
- One year of LB treatment significantly reduced lip muscle activity at rest and during swallowing compared to untreated individuals.
- The results indicate a potential short-term adaptation of upper and lower lip muscles to the new balance induced by LB treatment.
- LB treatment may contribute to achieving a more favorable lip-muscle relationship in growing patients.
Aim:
This prospective non-randomised case-control study analysed lip muscle activity after Lip Bumper (LB) treatment thought surface electromyography.
Methods:
The study group was composed of 40 young patients with a mean age of 10 years and 1 month, treated with LB in the lower arch, while 40 children who did not undergo any treatment, matched for sex and age with the previous sample, constituted the control group. Measurements were performed at the beginning and after 1 year for both groups. Electromyographic recordings were obtained in rest position and during the swallowing of 50 ml of water.
Results:
In the study group, after 1 year of LB treatment, a statistically significant decrease in values was found; specifically, in upper lip muscle activities at rest position with the appliance in situ (p <0.002) and both with (p <0.001) and without (p <0.001) the appliance for the lower lip.
Conclusion:
One year of LB treatment significantly reduced lip muscle activities at both rest position and during swallowing compared with the untreated sample. These results indicated a potential short-term of upper and lower lip muscle adaptation to the new balance induced by LB treatment.
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