[The relationships between the EMG excitation pattern of the masseter muscle and the facial skeletal morphology]

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations between malocclusions and the electromyographic activity of the orofacial muscles as this activity reveals itself through multi-channel, simultaneous recording of surface potentials from the masseter muscle. Thirty adults with class II or class III malocclusion formed the study's patient base. Surgical correction of the anomaly was planned for all patients. Ten patients served as the control group. In addition to the standard diagnosis, EMG were recorded during various stress situations such as maximal intercuspidations, chewing, swallowing, and mandible protrusion. We obtained a so-called "myomap" by means of the simultaneous multi-channel recording of the surface potential of the right masseter. Comparison of the EMG revealed a higher activity from the masticatory muscles in the class II cases than in the class III cases. The analysis of the masseter excitation pattern brought to light interesting differences. A higher activity on the lower margin of mandible in the area of the superficial part of masseter was found in the class II cases, whereas contrary to this an increase in EMG activity was found above the deep part of masseter in class III cases. The differing distribution of excitation of the 2 parts of the muscle in class II and class III malocclusions confirms the correlation between muscle function and morphology.