Study on the Activity Patterns of Masticatory Muscles according to the Levels of Occlusal Force

교합력 수준에 따른 저작근 근활성도에 관한 연구

In order to evaluate muscular activity patterns of masticatory muscles and asymmetry patterns of muscular activity according to the levels of occlusal force, twenty-one individuals of age ranged from 23 to 27 years were examined. They were selected according to the following criteria : 1) no symptoms of temporomandibular disorder, 2) complete dentition except third molars, 3) normal or Angle's class I molar relationship and 4) no experience of dental treatment. The electromyographic amplitudes was measured for evaluation of muscular activity and asymmetric patterns of masseter and anterior temporal muscle during unilateral clenching at the levels of 10%, 20%, 40% and 50% of the maximum occlusal force by use of electromyogram and bite force meter. The obtained results were as follows : 1. The muscle activity indices of masticatory muscles of clenching side at the clenching levels of 10%, 20% and 30% of the maximum occlusal force were -19.12, -9.87, -0.49%, so that activity of anterior temporal muscle was dominant than that of masseter muscle. At the levels of 40%, 50% of the maximum occlusal force, muscle activity indices were 4.68%, 6.70%, so that activity of masseter was dominant at all level and as the levels of occlusal force was increased, muscular activity index was tend to decrease. 2. In masseter, asymmetry indices of muscular activity at the levels of 10%, 20% of maximum occlusal force were -10.34 and -1.24%, so that muscular activity of non-clenching side were dominant and at the levels of 30%, 40% and 50% each of maximum occlusal force, muscular activity was dominant on clenching side as 4.68, 7.18 and 10.9%. In anterior temporal muscle, asymmetry indices were 33.38%, 25.46, 2095, 10.23 and 15.45% at the levels of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% each of maximum occlusal force, so that activity of clenching 15.45% at the levels of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% each of maximum occlusal force, so that activity of clenching side was dominant than that of non-clenching side at all levels, but as the levels of occlusal force was increased, asymmetry indices of muscular activity was tend to decrease. 3. Between both sides, average electromyographic amplitudes of masseter and anterior temporal muscle were correlated, so that as the levels of occlusal force was increased, average electromyographic amplitudes of both side in same muscle were increased proportionally. But asymmetry indices between muscular activities of masseter and anterior temporal muscle were not correlated.