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A magnetic method was used to record mandibular positions and movements at the mandibular central incisors with the intercuspal position as reference. Movements were tracked separately during resting posture, swallowing, speech, chewing, and maximal opening, and then transferred to the same sagittal amid frontal kinesiogramns. In terms of mutual position of different functional areas, as well as their size and shape, the compound kinesiograms proved to be a favorable way of assessing functional characteristics of individual occlusion as well as changes thereof. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occlusal stability and mandibular elevator muscle function was studied in 25 women (20-30 yr of age). They had 27-32 fully erupted teeth with few treated occlusal surfaces, and craniomandibular function including mandibular mobility was normal. The aim was to analyze the influence of natural patterns of occlusal contact on electromyographic activity, unaffected by pain and functional disorders. Occlusal stability was assessed in the intercuspal and in lateral contact positions as the number of teeth with physical contact and the number of opposing pairs of teeth in contact. Electromyographic activity was recorded by surface electrodes over anterior and posterior temporalis and masseter muscles. In general, positive correlations were found between occlusal stability in intercuspal position and moderate to strong static and dynamic contractions, most significant in masseter muscles, indicating that forceful contraction of these muscles implies stable occlusion. Systematically, the duration of activity during chewing was negatively correlated with occlusal stability in the intercuspal position, most pronounced in working-side muscles. This pointed to shorter contractions with stable occlusion and is interpreted as the result of less need for stabilizing activity. It is concluded, that the correlations between occlusal stability and elevator muscle function are probably based on feedback mechanisms from periodontal pressoreceptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activity in temporalis and masseter muscles, and traits of facial morphology and occlusal stability were studied in 22 patients (19 women, 3 men; 15-45 yr of age) with anterior open bite and symptoms and signs of craniomandibular disorders. Facial morphology was assessed by profile radiographs, occlusal stability by tooth contacts, and craniomandibular function by clinical and radiological examination. Electromyographic activity was recorded by surface electrodes after primary treatment with a reflex-releasing, stabilizing splint. Maximal voluntary contraction was reduced compared to reference values, particularly in subjects with muscular affection, but maximal activity increased significantly when biting on the splint. Maximal voluntary contraction was positively correlated to molar contact and negatively to anterior face height, mandibular inclination, vertical jaw relation and gonial angle. Relative loading of the muscles was markedly increased during resting posture. It was concluded that reduced occlusal stability and long-face morphology were associated with weak elevator muscle activity with disposition overload and tenderness. The results also indicated that increase of occlusal stability might lead to increased muscle strength and possibly reduce risk of physical strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bite force and activity in temporal and masseter muscles during biting and chewing were recorded in 19 control subjects and 23 subjects with symptoms and signs of functional disorders of the craniomandibular system. The entire group comprised 13 men and 29 women, 14-63 yr of age. Maximal unilateral bite force was 480 Newton (N) in control subjects and 387 N in patients, with corresponding bilateral values of 347 N and 230 N. At predetermined levels of contraction, temporalis and masseter activity were linearly related. Correlations of bite force and activity in short static contractions were significant with respect to unilateral, but not to bilateral force measurements. Only in the masseter muscle was strength of dynamic contractions during chewing significantly correlated to bite force. With the present method it was demonstrated that unilateral bite force is a simple clinical indicator of mandibular elevator strength as a whole, but inadequate to disclose asymmetric conditions. During isometric contraction, relative strength of electromyographic activity fairly accurately imaged the output of mechanical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]