Activity Of Jaw-closing Muscles Research Articles

Longitudinal electromyographic analysis of jaw-closing muscle activities during ingestive behaviors from pre-weaning to juvenile periods in rats

This longitudinal study investigated developmental changes in jaw-closing muscle activities during ingestive behaviors in rats.On postnatal day (P) 10, electromyography (EMG) electrodes were inserted into the masseter and temporalis muscles of rat pups. EMG activities were recorded for the following ingestive behaviors between P14 and P49: for suckling, including nipple attachment and rhythmic sucking on P14 and for pasta biting, pellet chewing, and milk licking between P21 and P49. Burst rhythms and muscle coordination (i.e., the correlation and time lag) between masseter and temporalis activities were assessed for each behavior.The burst rhythms of nipple attachment and rhythmic sucking on P14 were significantly slower than those of pasta biting, pellet chewing, and milk licking on P21. Muscle coordination differed between suckling on P14 and mastication and licking on P21. Between P21 and P49, increases were observed in burst rhythms for pasta biting and pellet chewing. The rate of increases in burst rhythms was higher for pasta biting than for pellet chewing. Muscle coordination between the two muscle activities for pasta biting did not significantly change between P21 and P49, whereas that for pellet chewing significantly changed between P21 and P24 and stabilized after P24. Burst rhythms for milk licking did not significantly change over time, while muscle coordination between the two muscle activities changed from agonist to antagonist muscle-like activity on approximately P35.The present results demonstrate that distinct patterns of rhythmic jaw-closing muscle activities emerge before weaning, they continue to change over time, and they exhibit unique developmental dynamics for each behavior after weaning.

Uptight responses between clenching and forearm raising with factors of visual feedback and maintenance effort in healthy young women: An experimental study on factorial design

BackgroundTo achieve different central preset force levels requires various fine-tuning efforts and may elicit different uptight responses. The mandibular lever system has a distinct regularity in the fine-tuning function of the upper limbs. The purpose of the present study was to detect whether the uptight responses elicited from motivating clenching differ from those induced by motivating forearm raising at different force levels.MethodsTwenty-five healthy females were enrolled in this study. The target was low, medium, and maximum force levels with or without visual feedback and/or maintenance effort. Surface electromyographic (SEMG) activity was recorded from the bilateral anterior temporalis and masseter or left biceps brachii muscle (BicL), and the T-Scan III System synchronously recorded the sensitive force values. The uptight responses and task difficulties were recorded for occlusal and left forearm lifting tasks using a unique visual analogue scale.ResultsThe highest uptight response value was achieved at a low clenching force level with visual feedback requiring no maintenance effort but at a maximum forearm-raising force level with visual feedback and maintenance effort. The SEMG activities of both jaw-closing muscles and BicL were associated with the central preset force level (P < 0.001). However, the maintenance effort only increased the jaw-closing muscles’ SEMG activity at the maximal force level (P < 0.001).ConclusionsClenching at the central preset lower force level with visual feedback is prone to elicit a higher degree of uptight response. The constant need for a low-intensity bite can have a negative effect on an individual's mood.

The effects of mandibular advancement appliance therapy on the sequence of jaw-closing muscle activity and respiratory events in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea

PurposeTo determine the effects of a mandibular advancement appliance (MAA) on sequences of jaw-closing muscle activity (JCMA) and apneic or hypopneic event (AHE) in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).MethodsIndividuals with OSA were included in a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled crossover trial, in which two ambulatory polysomnographic recordings were performed: one with MAA in situ and the other without MAA. A time span of 16 s between JCMA and AHE was applied to classify JCMAs into four sequences: (1) JCMA occurs before AHE (B-type); (2) both events occur simultaneously (S-type); (3) JCMA occurs after AHE (A-type); and (4) JCMA is time-unrelated to AHE (U-type). The effects of MAA on the distribution of these sequences were analyzed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test.ResultsAmong 16 individuals (10 men, mean age 51.3 ± 8.5 years) baseline apnea–hypopnea index and JCMA index were 23.8 ± 16.0 events/h and 10.8 ± 10.3 events/h, respectively. In both conditions, i.e., without and with MAA, most JCMAs were U-type (48% and 65%, respectively), followed by A-type (41% and 22%), B-type (25% and 21%), and S-type (2% and 1%). With MAA in situ, only the A-type JCMA index decreased significantly (P = 0.005), while B-type, S-type, and U-type JCMA indices did not change significantly (all P > 0.05).ConclusionMAA therapy only significantly reduces the jaw-closing muscle activities that occur after apneic or hypopneic events in individuals with OSA.Trial registrationwww.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02011425); December 13, 2013.

Effects of denture wearing on coordinated features of jaw and neck muscle activities during chewing in partially edentulous elderly patients.

This study was performed to examine how denture wearing improves jaw and neck muscle coordination during chewing in partially edentulous elderly patients. Sixteen patients classified as Eichner's index B2 or B3 and 16 young dentate subjects were enrolled. Jaw and neck muscle activities during chewing were recorded using electromyography with and without denture wearing, then analyzed using intermuscular Electromyography (EMG)-EMG transfer and EMG-EMG coherence function analyses to clarify quantitative, temporal, and functional coordination of jaw and neck muscle activities while chewing. Occlusal force and masticatory scores were also determined. Denture wearing increased the power values for jaw closing muscle activities, and improved occlusal area and force, and masticatory score. Gain values for jaw closing and opening muscle activities were decreased in those wearing dentures compared to those not wearing dentures. Denture wearing resulted in equivalent gain values for jaw closing and opening muscle activities as compared to the young subjects. Coherence values for chewing and non-chewing side neck muscle activities were increased as compared to not denture wearing. The suitability of denture wearing can be evaluated from the viewpoint of gain as a quantitative parameter showing coordination between jaw closing and opening muscle activities. Such evaluation can be performed from the viewpoint of coherence as a parameter of functional coordination between jaw and neck muscle activities during chewing in partially edentulous elderly patients. The gain parameter in regard to jaw muscle activities may be compensated to a state equivalent to that seen in young subjects by wearing an appropriate denture.

The effects of mandibular advancement appliance therapy on jaw-closing muscle activity during sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a 3-6 months follow-up.

The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mandibular advancement appliance (MAA) therapy on jaw-closing muscle activity (JCMA) time-related to respiratory arousals, and on JCMA time-related to nonrespiratory arousals in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Eighteen patients with OSA (mean ± standard deviation = 49.4 ± 9.8 years) with a mean ± standard deviation apnea-hypopnea index of 22.0 ± 16.0 events/h of sleep participated in a randomized controlled crossover trial in which two ambulatory polysomnographic recordings, 1 with an MAA in situ and another without the MAA in situ, were performed. JCMA was quantified as the sum of rhythmic masticatory muscle activities and other orofacial activities. Significant reductions in the apnea-hypopnea index (Z = -2.984; P = .003), in the respiratory arousal index (Z = -2.896; P = .004), and in the JCMA time-related to respiratory arousal index (Z = -3.434; P = .001) were found with MAA in situ. On the nonrespiratory arousal index, and on the JCMA time-related to nonrespiratory arousal index, MAA had no significant effect (T = 2.23; P = .82; and Z = -0.66; P = .51, respectively). This study shows that effective mandibular advancement appliance therapy significantly reduces jaw-closing muscle activities time-related to respiratory arousals in OSA patients. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings in obstructive sleep apnea patients with comorbid sleep bruxism. Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Name: The Effects of Oral Appliance Therapy on Masseter Muscle Activity in Obstructive Sleep Apnea; Identifier: NCT02011425.

Quantitative analyses of jaw-opening muscle activity during the active phase of jaw-closing muscles in sleep bruxism.

Rhythmic masticatory muscle activity (RMMA), which is defined as three or more consecutive phasic bursts, accounts for a large part of sleep bruxism (SB). RMMA is thought to be characterized by co-contraction, a jaw muscle activity in which jaw-opening muscles contract during the active phase of jaw-closing muscles, which is different from that during mastication. However, there has been limited information about co-contraction. The aim of the present study was to clarify the amplitudes and patterns of jaw-opening muscle activity during the active phase of jaw-closing muscles in RMMA. Data from 14 healthy volunteers with bruxism, which was diagnosed by using polysomnographic recording with audio-video, were analysed. RMMA with electromyographic amplitudes of more than two times the baseline amplitude was selected. From the selected RMMA, burst groups consisting of five or more consecutive phasic bursts, including tonic bursts, were selected for analyses. Electromyographic activities during gum chewing were also recorded before sleeping. The minimum, maximum and average value of the amplitudes of jaw-opening muscle activity during the active phase of jaw-closing muscles were calculated. Jaw-opening muscle activity during the active phase of jaw-closing muscles in RMMA was closer to the baseline than that in gum chewing. The minimum, maximum and average values of amplitudes of jaw-opening muscle activity during the phase were significantly smaller than those of gum chewing. Contrary to our hypothesis prior to the study, the obtained results suggested that the pattern of electromyogram activity of jaw-opening and jaw-closing muscles in RMMA was not necessarily co-contraction.

音刺激が下顎安静位に及ぼす影響について : 閉口筋筋活動および脳波学的分析(大阪歯科大学大学院歯学研究科博士(歯学)学位論文内容要旨および論文審査結果要旨の公表)

音刺激が下顎安静位に及ぼす影響について : 閉口筋筋活動および脳波学的分析(大阪歯科大学大学院歯学研究科博士(歯学)学位論文内容要旨および論文審査結果要旨の公表)

Effects of citalopram on jaw-closing muscle activity during sleep and wakefulness in mice

In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic administration of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram on sleep/wake cycles and masseter (jaw-closing) muscle electromyogram (EMG) activity over a 24-h period. From the dark to the light period, the times of wakefulness decreased, while those of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and REM sleep increased. Citalopram did not induce major alterations in the temporal changes of sleep–wake distributions, except for leading to a decrease in the time of NREM sleep during the light period and an increase in the durations of REM sleep episodes. Moreover, citalopram did not modify mean masseter EMG activity during any of the vigilance states and did not affect the temporal changes related to the shifts between dark/light periods. However, citalopram increased the time engaged in masseter EMG activation during NREM sleep in the second and the first halves of the dark and light periods, respectively. These results suggest that chronic citalopram treatment does not affect the temporal changes of sleep–wake distributions, but has a limited facilitatory influence that fails to increase the number of epochs of high levels of masseter muscle activation.

An investigation of the simultaneously recorded occlusal contact and surface electromyographic activity of jaw-closing muscles for patients with temporomandibular disorders and a scissors-bite relationship

Surface electromyographic (SEMG) activity of the masseter and anterior temporalis (TA) muscles has been reported to be associated with occlusion and orofacial pain. However, our recent report did not reveal an association between the side of orofacial pain and the side showing higher or lower level of SEMG activity of masseter or TA. The present purpose was to re-test this association in patients who had unilateral scissors-bite relationship. Thirty-two unilateral scissors-bite femalepatients complaining of unilateral orofacial pain (n=15) or TMJ sounds (n=17) were enrolled to simultaneously record contacts, force distribution of occlusion, and SEMG activity of masseter and TA during centric maximal voluntary clenching (MVC). The results indicated that neither orofacial pain nor the TMJ sounds had an association with the masseter’s SEMG values, while scissors-bite had (P<0.05). A lower SEMG value for masseter was found on the scissors-bite side where there was a smaller number of contacts and a lower biting force distribution (P<0.05). No such association was revealed in TA. In conclusion, in patients with unilateral TMD symptom(s) and scissors-bite, the jawclosing muscles’ SEMG activity during centric MVC was associated with the scissors-bite rather than the symptoms of orofacial pain or TMJ sounds.

Postero-inferior condylar movement induced by artificial occlusal interference on the balancing side during fictive mastication in rabbits

ObjectiveTooth contact does not occur on the balancing side during mastication. Hence, it is possible that the presence of occlusal interference on the balancing side causes mandibular rotation followed by atypical condylar movement because the jaw-closing muscle activity on the working side is greater than on the balancing side. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between occlusal contact on the balancing side and condylar movement during mastication. MethodsEMG activity of the masseter (MS), lateral pterygoid (LP) and digastric (DG) muscles and jaw movements were recorded. Condylar movements in the sagittal plane were recorded using a high speed charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. Incisal point movements were recorded using a magnet on the mentum and a magnetometric sensor on the nasal bone. A removable biting plate was used to introduce an artificial occlusal interference on the balancing side. ResultsNine of the 10 rabbits showed large postero-inferior condylar movement (Pi-Cm) when a biting plate was applied on the balancing side. Five rabbits showed very small Pi-Cm when a biting plate was applied on the balancing side. In the small Pi-Cm group, MS activity decreased markedly and LP and DG transient activity appeared in the early occlusal phase in the presence of the biting plate. ConclusionInterference on the balancing side always caused Pi-Cm on the ipsilateral side during mastication. However, the degree of Pi-Cm was often decreased by a jaw opening reflex response.

Preparation of double-network tofu with mechanical and sensory toughness

Summary In this study, sugar beet pectin and soy protein were used to prepare the double-network (DN) modified-tofu by sequential laccase and microbial transglutaminase treatments. The mechanical properties of modified-tofu were analysed by uniaxial compression test and texture profile analysis. The DN modified-tofu exhibited greater mechanical toughness than the corresponding single-network modified-tofu, while the ratio of soy glycinin to soy protein isolate reached and exceeded 50%. The enhancement of mechanical toughness may be mainly ascribed to the hierarchical microstructure which is observed in DN modified-tofu by scanning electron microscopy. DN modified-tofu provided a distinctive mechanical and sensory tough texture as compared to other tofu samples. In addition, the oral processing measurements indicated that DN modified-tofu required higher jaw-closing muscle activities, a greater number of chews and longer chewing duration to be processed. Furthermore, the chewing pattern of DN modified-tofu was different from other tofu samples.

An investigation on the simultaneously recorded occlusion contact and surface electromyographic activity for patients with unilateral temporomandibular disorders pain

The present study examined if unilateral pain from temporomandibular disorders (TMD) was associated with the occlusion contacts and surface electromyographic (SEMG) activities of jaw-closing muscles. Eleven patients with unilateral TMD pain and 20 healthy volunteers who all had Angle’s Class-I occlusions were enrolled. The numbers and load distributions of the occlusion contacts and the SEMG activities of the anterior temporalis (TA) muscles and masseters muscles (MM) during maximal voluntary clenching (MVC) in the centric and eccentric positions were simultaneously recorded on both sides. The pain was not associated with occlusal contact numbers or load distributions. The SEMG activities of the pain-side TA and bilateral MM were lower during centric MVC compared with controls. The SEMG activities of the non-pain-side TA and the normalized SEMG activities of the bilateral TAs and MMs were higher during protrusive MVC (p<0.05). During pain-side MVC, the normalized SEMG activities of the working-side MM and balancing-side TA were higher than those of the controls. In conclusion, the TMD pain side was not associated with the occlusal contacts, but the patients with TMD had TA and MM SEMG activities during different tasks that differed from controls and that did not seem related to the pain side.

Short-term effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on sleep bruxism - a pilot study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on patients with sleep bruxism (SB). Twelve patients with SB were included in an open, single-intervention pilot study. rTMS at 1 Hz and an intensity of 80% of the active motor threshold was applied to the ‘hot spot' of the masseter muscle representation at the primary motor cortex bilaterally for 20 min per side each day for 5 consecutive days. The jaw-closing muscle electromyographic (EMG) activity during sleep was recorded with a portable EMG recorder at baseline, during rTMS treatment and at follow-up for 5 days. In addition, patients scored their jaw-closing muscle soreness on a 0–10 numerical rating scale (NRS). Data were analysed with analysis of variance. The intensity of the EMG activity was suppressed during and after rTMS compared to the baseline (P = 0.04; P = 0.02, respectively). The NRS score of soreness decreased significantly during and after rTMS compared with baseline (P < 0.01). These findings indicated a significant inhibition of jaw-closing muscle activity during sleep along with a decrease of muscle soreness. This pilot study raises the possibility of therapeutic benefits from rTMS in patients with bruxism and calls for further and more controlled studies.

Dark/light transition and vigilance states modulate jaw-closing muscle activity level in mice

Bruxism is associated with an increase in the activity of the jaw-closing muscles during sleep and wakefulness. However, the changes in jaw-closing muscle activity across states of vigilance over a 24-h period are unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of dark/light transition and sleep/wake state on EMG activity of the masseter (jaw-closing) muscle in comparison with the activity of the upper trapezius muscle (a neck muscle) over a 24-h period in mice. The activities of the masseter and neck muscles during wakefulness were much greater than during non-REM and REM sleep. In contrast, the activities of both muscles slightly, but significantly, decreased during the transition period from dark to light. Histograms of masseter activity during wakefulness and non-REM sleep showed bimodal distributions, whereas the neck muscle showed unimodal activation in all states. These results suggest that the activities of jaw-closing and neck muscles are modulated by both sleep/wake state and dark/light transition, with the latter being to a lesser degree. Furthermore, even during non-REM sleep, jaw-closing muscles display bimodal activation, which may contribute to the occurrence of exaggerated aberrant muscle activity, such as sleep bruxism.

English

The fundamental pattern of chewing induced by the network of neurons called central pattern generator has been reported to be modified by the information arising from the various oro-facial sensory receptors including muscle spindles of jaw closing muscles. The cell bodies of primary afferent neurons from these muscle spindles lie in mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (MTN) in the brainstem. The aim of the study was to understand whether muscle spindles from jaw-closing muscles play any role in hard food chewing. Single neuronal discharge of muscle spindle afferents was recorded from the MTN simultaneous with jaw-movement and electromyograpic (EMG) activities of the left masseter (jaw-closing) muscle during chewing soft and hard foods (apple and pellet) in awake rabbits. Ten consecutive chewing cycles were taken for analysis. Discharge of nineteen muscle spindles from seven rabbits was successfully recorded. Muscle-spindle discharge was significantly higher during the closing phase of jaw-movement for the hard food chewing than for the soft food. The jaw-closing muscle EMG activity was significantly higher during hard food chewing compared to soft food. The spindle discharge was higher when the masseter muscle activity was greater for chewing hard food. Significant positive (r=0.822, p=<0.001) correlation was found between the difference of muscle activity between apple and pellet and the difference of spindle discharge between apple and pellet. Above findings suggest that the increase of spindle discharge during hard food chewing may play a role for facilitating jaw-closing muscle activities and thereby provides servo-assistance to jaw-closing muscles to compensate the hardness of food.

Can masticatory electromyography be normalised to submaximal bite force?

The combination of bite force and jaw muscle electromyography (EMG) provides an insight into the performance of the stomatognathic system, especially in relation to dynamic movement tasks. Literature has extensively investigated possible methods for normalising EMG data encapsulating many different approaches. However, bite force literature trends towards normalising EMG to a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), which could be difficult for ageing populations or those with poor dental health or limiting conditions such as temporomandibular disorder. The objectives of this study were to (i) determine whether jaw-closing muscle activity is linearly correlated with incremental submaximal and maximal bite force levels and (ii) assess whether normalising maximal and submaximal muscle activity to that produced when performing a low submaximal bite force (20 N) improves repeatability of EMG values. Thirty healthy adults (15 men, 15 women; mean age 21 ± 1·2 years) had bite force measurements obtained using a custom-made button strain gauge load cell. Masseter and anterior temporalis muscle activities were collected bilaterally using surface EMG sensors whilst participants performed maximal biting and three levels of submaximal biting. Furthermore, a small group (n = 4 females) were retested for reliability purposes. Coefficients of variation and intra-class correlation coefficients showed markedly improved reliability when EMG data were normalised compared to non-normalised. This study shows that jaw muscle EMG may be successfully normalised to a very low bite force. This may open possibilities for comparisons between at-risk sample groups that may otherwise find it difficult to produce maximal bite force values.

Neuropeptide-Y modulates eating patterns and masticatory muscle activity in rats

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a powerful orexigenic peptide secreted by hypothalamic neurons. The present study investigates how NPY injection into the lateral ventricle modulates masticatory movements and eating behavior. Behavioral experiments showed that cumulative food intake over a 4-h period and latency to eating were increased and decreased, respectively, in NPY-injected rats compared to saline-injected control rats. The feeding time for 2g pellets was shorter in NPY-injected rats and resulted in an increased feeding rate, with more potent effects observed at 1μg compared to 10μg NPY. After injection of 10μg NPY, a greater number of bouts with shorter average bout duration for eating 2g, compared to 1μg NPY, were observed. Furthermore, 10μg NPY injection resulted in prolonged periods of moving and shortened sleep and grooming. Electromyography recordings from the digastric and masseter muscles showed two distinct patterns of bursts corresponding to the gnawing and chewing phases. After the injection of 1μg NPY, the burst magnitude of masseter muscle during the gnawing phase increased, reflecting strong jaw-closing muscle activity. The relative integrated EMG of masseter muscle in both phases was smaller following injection of 10μg NPY in comparison with that of 1μg NPY. The present study indicates that 1μg NPY administration promotes feeding behavior together with increased feeding rate and powerful jaw-closing muscle activity; whereas 10μg NPY administration lowers jaw-closing muscle activity during biting and produces mastication with shorter and more frequent feeding bouts than 1μg NPY.

Effect of experimental jaw muscle pain on EMG activity and bite force distribution at different level of clenching

Bite force at different levels of clenching and the corresponding electromyographic (EMG) activity in jaw-closing muscles were recorded in 16 healthy women before, during and after painful stimulation of the left masseter muscle. Experimental pain was induced by infusion of 5·8% hypertonic saline (HS), and 0·9% isotonic saline (IS) was infused as a control. EMG activity was recorded bilaterally from the masseter and temporalis muscles, and static bite force was assessed by pressure-sensitive films (Dental Pre-scale) at 5, 50 and 100% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) during each session. Visual feedback was applied by showing EMG activity to help the subject perform clenching at 5, 50 and 100% MVC, respectively. EMG activity at 100% MVC in left and right masseter decreased significantly during painful HS infusion (1·7-44·6%; P<0·05). EMG activity at 5% and 50% MVC was decreased during HS infusion in the painful masseter muscle (4·8-18·6%; P<0·05); however, EMG activity in the other muscles increased significantly (18·5-128·3%; P<0·05). There was a significant increase in bite force in the molar regions at 50% MVC during HS infusion and in the post-infusion condition (P<0·05). However, there were no significant differences in the distribution of forces at 100% MVC. In conclusion, experimental pain in the masseter muscle has an inhibitory effect on jaw muscle activity at maximal voluntary contraction, and compensatory mechanisms may influence the recruitment pattern at submaximal efforts.

Stable tooth contacts in intercuspal occlusion makes for utilities of the jaw elevators during maximal voluntary clenching

Data are inconsistent concerning whether the level of the surface electromyographic (SEMG) activity of jaw-closing muscles increases when biting forces elevated during maximal voluntary clenching (MVC). In this study, T-Scan III system and BioEMG III system were used to record bite force, occlusal contacts and SEMG activity of the anterior temporalis (TA) and of the masseter muscles (MM) simultaneously. Recordings were obtained from 16 healthy young adult males during different conditions: (i) a fast MVC from resting position to intercuspal position (ICP); (ii) mandibular movements from ICP to protrusive or lateral edge-to-edge positions with teeth in contact with biting; (iii) a fast MVC in protrusive and lateral edge-to-edge positions. A higher level of SEMG activity was associated with a higher bite force during occluding movements (P < 0.05). However, during fast MVC from rest to ICP, the largest number of occlusal contacts was achieved and distributed more symmetrically, the highest level of biting force was obtained, but the SEMG activity of the jaw elevator muscles was reduced compared with its maximum level (P < 0.05). This phenomenon was not observed during the fast MVC in protrusive or lateral edge-to-edge positions. The present results that a lower SEMG activity was associated with the largest number of occlusal contacts and the highest level of bite force during centric MVC demonstrated a complex integration of jaw-closing muscles when a stable occlusion is present.

Forces, movements and reflexes produced by pushing human teeth

Pushing a tooth results in movement of the tooth and reflex inhibition of activity in jaw-closing muscles. The aims of this study were to determine how much tooth movement is required to elicit such reflexes and whether this is dependent on the point of force application to the tooth. Eight experiments were performed on six volunteer subjects. Electromyograms (EMGs) were recorded from a masseter muscle while the subjects produced approximately 12.5 % of the EMG associated with maximal clenching. Reflexes were evoked by pushing at two positions (incisal and cervical) on an upper central incisor. The forces applied and the resulting movements of the tooth were recorded. There was a linear relationship between force and movement regardless of whether the force was incisal or cervical (Pearson's r = 0.91 and r = 0.93 respectively). There were no differences between the slopes or intercepts for these relationships (ANCOVA p = 0.42, p = 0.46 respectively). There were linear relationships between the logarithms of force or movement and the resulting inhibitory reflexes (r = 0.81, 0.79, 0.81 and 0.74 for incisal and cervical forces and incisal and cervical movements, respectively). Again, there were no significant differences between the slopes for these relationships (ANCOVA p = 0.75, p = 0.46 for force and movement, respectively). There were no significant differences between the reflex thresholds for incisal and cervical stimuli in terms of force (0.23 and 0.25 N, ANCOVA p = 0.1) or movement (9.7 and 8.5 μm, ANCOVA p = 0.22). Thus, it appears that neither tooth movements nor jaw reflexes are dependent on the point of force application to a tooth.