A comparative study on the muscle activity of the anterior openbite and normal occlusion

Jeon, Byeong Hwa; Kim, Kwang Won

Abstract

This study was undertaken to compare the activity of masticatory muscle between normal occlusion and anterior openbite. 33 subjects without the experience of orthodontic treatment, missing teeth and the symptom of T. M. disorders were selected for this study: 25 subjects were normal occlusion and 8 subjects were anterior openbite. The ten items were measured from the cephalometric headplates, and EMG recordings of the anterior temporal and masseter muscle were taken at rest position and during maximum clenching at centric occlusion. All data were analyzed and processed with the computer statistical method. The following results were obtained: 1. At rest position, the muscle activities of both temporal and masseter muscle were higher in anterior openbite than in normal occlusion. 2. During maximum clenching, the muscle activities of both temporal and masseter muscle were prominently lower in anterior openbite than in normal occlusion. 3. At rest position, the temporal muscle of anterior openbite showed the highest muscle activity, but showed the lowest muscle activity during maximum clenching. 4. Anterior openbite showed closer interrelationship between facial morphology and the muscle activity, and the muscle activity was more influenced by the form of mandible than that of maxilla.