Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze the electromyographic (EMG) activity and the maximal molar bite force in women diagnosed with osteoporosis in the maxillary and mandibular regions, considering the habits and conditions that lead to development of generalized skeletal bone loss, including on face bones, can disturb the functional harmony of the stomatognathic system. Twenty-seven women with mandibular and maxillary osteoporosis and 27 healthy controls volunteered to participate in the study. A 5-channel electromyographer was used. Muscle activity was evaluated by means of EMG recordings of the masticatory musculature (masseter and temporalis muscles, bilaterally) during the following clinical conditions: rest (5 s); right and left lateral excursions (5 s); protrusion (5 s); maximal dental clenching on Parafilm (4 s) and maximal voluntary contraction (4 s). This latter clinical condition was used as the normalization factor of the sample data. It was observed that individuals with osteoporosis presented greater EMG activity when maintaining mandible posture conditions and less activity during dental clenching and when obtaining maximal molar bite force. It may be concluded that facial osteoporosis can interfere on the patterns of masticatory muscle activation and maximal bite force of the stomatognathic system.
Highlights
Osteoporosis is a pathologic condition defined as the absolute reduction in bone quantity and damage of its micro-architecture structure, leading to a state of fragility in which fractures can occur after minor traumas
All volunteers had mandibular and maxillary osteoporosis, which had been diagnosed by identification of low mineral bone mass on panoramic radiographs, which was confirmed by bone densitometry
Muscle activity was evaluated by means of EMG recordings of the masticatory musculature during the following clinical conditions: rest (5 s); right and left lateral excursions (5 s); protrusion (5 s); maximal dental clenching on ParafilmTM (American National Can., Greenwich, CT, USA) (4 s) and maximal voluntary contraction (4 s)
Summary
Osteoporosis is a pathologic condition defined as the absolute reduction in bone quantity and damage of its micro-architecture structure, leading to a state of fragility in which fractures can occur after minor traumas. It is characterized by the reduction of bone mass and the disorganization of the trabecular architecture, with consequent weakening of the bone [1]. It is considered a serious public health issue and one of the most important aging-associated diseases, affecting millions of people in the world [2]. A slow age-related bone mass loss process begins - senile osteoporosis - in which, through life, women will loose about 35% of cortical bone and 50% of trabecular bone, while men lose 2/3 of that amount [1]
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