Evaluation of masticatory muscles of edentulous patients by computed tomography and electromyography

On account of its tissue resolution capacity, computed tomography (CT) is an excellent method for the examination and quantitative analysis of the masticatory muscles. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the long edentulous period by CT on the structure of the main masticatory muscles in 10 edentulous patients and to study their functioning by electromyography (EMG) in connection with the renewal of the dentures. CT scanning was performed before prosthodontic treatment and EMG recordings of the masseter and temporal muscles before treatment and 4 weeks and 6 months after insertion of the new dentures. The results suggest, however, that a long edentulous period is visible not only in the functioning of the masticatory muscles, in terms of decreased EMG activity, but also as decreased density of the muscles which implies muscle atrophy, as seen by CT in the masseter and medial pterygoid muscles.