Follow-up study of silent periods in complete denture wearers

Electromyographic silent periods in response to chin taps during clench were recorded from the anterior temporalis and masseter muscles. Ten complete denture wearers were observed up to the 1-year stage of denture wear and eight patients up to the 2-year stage. Silent periods were also recorded from patients clenching on paper rolls in place of the dentures. Regarding the patterns of the silent periods, similar observations of double silent periods were made as in our previous study up to the half-year stage of denture wear (McCall, Tallgren & Ash, 1979). The frequency of the double silent periods was 13.8% at the 1-year stage and 7.3% at the 2-year stage. The mean duration of the silent periods did not differ significantly at the 1-year and 2-year stages. The mean silent period duration when clenching on paper rolls without dentures in the mouth was significantly shorter than when clenching with the dentures.