Objective evaluation for bite plate therapy in patients with myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome

An electromyographic study of the masseter and anterior temporal muscles together with questioning patients regarding subjective symptoms was performed on 15 patients with myofascial pain dysfunction (MPD) syndrome prior to and during bite plate therapy. The electromyographic study was evaluated by the slopes of the voltage tension (V/T) curves (calculated as the value of the relative inclination between the integrated electromyram and the biting force). The improvement of subjective symptoms was recognized earlier than the relief of objective symptoms by bite plate therapy. The results confirm that judgement of level of improvement following treatment of MPD syndrome is more appropriate through objective evaluation. Follow-up recording of the voltage tension can be considered to be an objective indicator for patients with MPD syndrome.