• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.31 no.2 s.85
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• pp.225-236
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• 2001

It is widely accepted that the shape and structure of bone are closely related to the activity of attached muscle. Numerous clinical and animal experimental studies indicated the significant effects of masticatory muscle function on maxillofacial morphology. Recently, the development of ultrasonography has spread throughout different fields of medicine. In the clinical examinations, ultrasonography is a convenient, inexpensive technique to apply with accurate and reliable results. The aim of this study is to assess the thickness of the masseter muscle and its correlation to maxillofacial skeleton by examining 35 male and 15 female dental students at Kangnung National University. The masseter muscle thickness of the subjects were measured by ultrasonographic scanning with a 7.5MHz linear probe, and their maxillofacial morphology were investigated by lateral cephalometric radiographs. The relationship between the masseter muscle thickness and maxillofacial morphology of normal adult was statistically analyzed, and the following results were obtained. 1. The average thickness of male masseter muscle was 13.8${\pm}$1.71mm in the relaxed state and 14.8${\pm}$1.77mm at maximal clenching state, while that of female was 11.6${\pm}$1.58mm and 12.4${\pm}$1.47mm, respectively. Ethnic difference in thickness of the masseter muscle and maxillofacial skeleton was found when the results of many researchers were compared with those of this study. 2. The thickness of the masseter muscle in both sexes increased significantly at maximal clenching state than in relaxed state(P<0.05). 3. The masseter muscle thickness of male was greater than that of female both in the relaxed state and maximal clenching states(P<0.05). 4. In males, the thickness of the masseter muscle was negatively correlated with the mandibular plane angle and positively correlated with the mandibular ramus height and anterior cranial base length(P<0.05). It may suggest that the male with thicker masseter muscle has smaller facial divergence. 5. No significant correlation was found between the masseter muscle thickness and maxillofacial morphology in females(P<0.05). Therefore, these data suggest that ultrasonography can add valuable information to the conventional examinations of masseter muscle function.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.34 no.5 s.106
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• pp.394-407
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• 2004

The Purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the lower third molar on treatment time and distal en masse movement of the lower dentition in Giass III malocclusions. Thirty subjects (9 males and 27 females) were selected, all of whom were diagnosed as Glass III malocclusion and treated by fixed appliances without premolar and/or molar extraction. They were divided into three groups Group 1 consisted of 12 subjects. whose lower third molars were not extracted during the whole orthodontic treatment. Group 2 consisted of 8 subjects. whose lower third molars were extracted after WEAW application and before removal of the orthodontic appliances. Group 3 consisted of 10 subjects whose lower third molars were extracted before MEAW application. For each subject. overall treatment time and duration of MEAW application were determined. In addition. pre-treatment and post-treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs were analyzed. All data were Processed statistically with ANOVA, and the conclusions were as follows: There was no significant difference among the groups in overall treatment time However, duration of MEAW application was longer in Group 2 than in Group 1 or Group 3. The overjet that was established after orthodontic treatment was largest in Group 3, in which the lower third molars were extracted befor MEAW application. After orthodontic treatment, IMPA decreased in Group 3. but increased in Group 1 and Group 2. There was no significant difference among the three groups in the translation of lower second molars However the tipping movement of lower second molars was significantly different, highest in Group 2 and lowest in Group 1 Therefore. it is thought to be better for the orthodontic treatment of Class III malocclusions to extract the lower third molars before MEAW application. In Group 2, the mandibular plane angle was decreased as a result of forward rotation of the mandible This skeletal change was thought to bring about the difficulty of treatment.