Chewing muscles functional status assessment in patients with TMJ muscular-articular dysfunction while using of soft occlusal splint

Abstract

Currently, the functional diagnosis of the entire dentition state is becoming an integral part of orthodontic and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders correction. Aim — to study the functional state of the masticatory muscles in patients with muscular-articular dysfunction before and after using an soft occlusal splint. Materials and methods. A comprehensive examination of 478 patients (63% women, 37% men), aged 18 to 50 years, with various types of the dentition occlusion and muscular-articular TMJ dysfunction was performed. The main methods of functional diagnostics included: 1) masticatory muscle electromyography on Synapsis electromyograph (NeuroTech, Russia); 2) occlusion computer analysis with T-Scan III (Teksan, USA). Results. This work has established, based on the masticatory muscles functional state study, that bioelectrical activity was higher in the temporal muscles than in the masticatory muscles with the coefficient of symmetry from 2 to 4.5 in 65% of patients. After using an soft occlusal splintfor 6—12 months, the data of functional research methods confirm an improvement in the state of masticatory muscles in 84% of patients with TMJ. Conclusions. The obtained results have confirmed the fact of the masticatory muscles functional state improving with effectiveness of an soft occlusal splint use in patients with muscular articular TMJ dysfunction.