• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.317-324
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• 2009

This study aimed to assess stiffness and elasticity of the masticatory muscle in the patients with the masticatory muscle pain using a tactile sensor and to investigate whether the masticatory muscle pain affects the facial expression muscles. From those who visited Department of Oral Medicine in Dankook University Dental Hospital, 27 patients presenting with unilateral muscle pain and tenderness in the masseter muscle (Ms) were selected (mean age: $36.4{\pm}13.8$ years). Exclusion criterion was those who also had temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders or any neurological pain. Muscle stiffness and elasticity for the muscles of mastication and facial expression was investigated with the tactile sensor (Venustron, Axiom Co., JAPAN) and the muscles measured were the Ms, anterior temporal muscle (Ta), frontalis (Fr), inferior orbicularis oculi (Ooci), zygomaticus major (Zm), superior and inferior orbicularis oris (Oors, Oori) and mentalis (Mn). t-tests was used to compare side difference in muscle stiffness and elasticity. Side differences were also compared between diagnostic groups (local muscle soreness (LMS) vs myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) and between acute (< 6M) and chronic ($\geq$ 6M) groups. This study showed that Ms and Zm at affected side exhibited significantly increased stiffness and decreased elasticity as compared to the unaffected side.(p<0.05) There was no significant difference between local muscle soreness and myofascial pain syndrome groups and between acute and chronic groups. The results of this study suggests that masticatory muscle pain in Ms can affect muscle stiffness and elasticity not only for Ms but also for Zm, the facial expression muscle.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.279-294
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• 2008

This study aimed to make an analysis of the occlusion in the state of muscle fatigue produced by excessive mouth opening and clenching during the dental treatment to control the dental pain and to evaluate the sensory nerve in the muscle pain state. Most of the reasons why patients visit the dental office result in pain-either conceivably the dental origin pain or the non-dental origin pain. The dental offices have many therapeutic actions to produce the masticatory muscle fatigue for the treatment. Dental treatment with long minutes of mouth opening can cause some headaches, masticatory muscle pain and mouth opening difficulties. Patients with mastication problems who visits a dental office to alleviate pain run against another unexpected pain with other aspects. This study uses T-scan II system(Tekscan Co., USA) for the evaluation on the occlusal pattern in the experimental muscle fatigue after clenching, opening the mouth excessively and chewing gum. The occlusal contact pattern is analyzed by the contact timing, namely first, intercuspal, maximum and end point of contact. This inspection was performed at frequencies of 2000Hz, 250 Hz and 5 Hz before and after each experimental muscle pain was produced to 24 subjects who had normal occlusion without the orthodontic treatment or a wide range of the prosthesis by using $neurometer^{\circledR}$ CPT/C(Neurotron, Inc. Baltimore, Maryland, USA). The measuring sites were mandibular nerve experimental muscle fatigue respectively. This study could obtain the following results after the assessment of occlusion and sensory nerve of the experimental muscle fatigue. 1. There were the fastest expression after the excessive mouth opening in muscle fatigue and after tooth clenching in muscle pain. In the visual analog scale that records the subjective level, there was the highest scale after the clenching in the muscle fatigue in jumping off the point of pain. 2. Tooth contact time, contact force, relative contact force on the point of the first contact had no difference, and there were decreases in the contact force after the excessive mouth opening on intercuspal position point, after the excessive mouth opening and the gum chewing on the point of the maximum, and in the contact time after all the experimental muscle fatigue state on the point of the end contact. 3. There was no statistic significance in the current perception threshold before and after the experimental muscle fatigue. 4. There was no significant difference in the contact number, the maximal contact number on the point of the first contact, and the contact number after the mouth opening and gum chewing on the point of the intercuspal position and the contact number after the experimental muscle fatigue on the maximum point, and showed significant decreases. In conclusion, it was found that the occlusal pattern can cause the changes on the case of the clinical muscle weakness by intra-external oral events. It was important that the sedulous attention to details is required during dental treatment in case of excessive mouth opening, mastication and clenching.