Korean J Orthod.  1992 Mar;22(1):253-271.

Correlations between orbicularis oris and mentalis muscle activity and craniofacial morphology in normal occlusion and Class III malocclusion

• Chang CS
• Lee KS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference of EMG activity of the Orbicularis oris and Mentalis muscle between normal occlusion and class III malocclusion group during various lip position and to find out whether any correlations exist between the muscular activity and craniofacial morphology. In this study, 50 subjects with a mean age of 22.9 Years (range 20.0-26.0) were investigated (25 subjects were normal occlusion, and 25 subjects were class III malocclusion). EMG data were recorded from the Orbicularis oris and Mentalis muscle during rest lip posture, lip position at maximum biting, lip position at maximum sealing effort, lip position at chewing, swallowing and phonation with the Medelec MS-25 electromyographic machine. Lateral cephalometric radiographs was taken with the mandible in intercuspal position on all subjects. All data were recorded and statistically processed. The findings of this study can be summerized as follows: 1. In normal occlusion, the maximal mean amplitude of upper lip during the lip position at chewing was lower than that of lower lip and mentalis muscle. But the maximal mean amplitude of orbicularis oris and mentalis muscle during the other lip position was not statistically different. 2. In Class III malocclusion, the maximal mean amplitude of upper lip during the lip position at chewing, swallowing and phonation was lower than that of lower lip and mentalis muscle. But the maximal mean amplitude of orbicularis oris and mentalis muscle during the other lip position was not statistically different. 3. Compare to normal occlusion, the Class III malocclusion was showed low maximal mean amplitude of upper lip during rest lip posture and the lip position at swallowing of saliva, and showed great maximal mean amplitude of lower lip and meantalis muscle during the lip position at chewing and phonation. 4. In normal occlusion, the maximal mean amplitude of upper lip during various lip position was not correlated with the length and thickness of upper lip, but the maximal mean amplitude of lower lip during the lip position at chewing and swallowing was positively correlated with the thickness of lower lip. 5. In Class III malocclusion, the maximal mean amplitude of upper lip during rest lip posture was negatively correlated with the thickness of upper lip, and the maximal mean amplitude of lower lip and mentalis muscle during the lip position at chewing and swallowing was positively correlated with the thickness of lower lip and mentalis muscle. But the maximal mean amplitude of orbicularis oris and mentalis muscle during the other lip position was not correlated with the cephalometric measurements of soft tissue. 6. The correlation between the maximal mean amplitude of orbicularis oris and mentalis muscle and cephalometric measurements of incisors was not nearly present. 7. In normal occlusion, the maximal mean amplitude of lower lip and mentalis muscle during the lip position at maximum biting was negatively correlated with the angle between palatal plane and mandibular plane. In Class III malocclusion, the maximal mean amplitude of upper lip, lower lip and mentalis muscle during function was negatively correlated with the length of maxilla, the maximal mean amplitude of upper lip and lower lip during function was negatively correlated with the SNA and SNPo, and the maximal mean amplitude of lower lip during the lip position at chewing was negatively correlated with the ANB.

MeSH Terms

Deglutition
Incisor
Lip
Malocclusion*
Mandible
Mastication
Maxilla
Phonation
Posture
Saliva