Electromyographic Activity of Masseter and Temporal Muscles with Different Facial Types

Objectives: To compare the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the masseter and anterior portion of temporal muscles in different vertical facial types. Materials and Methods: Clinical examination, cephalometric analysis, and electromyographic examination were performed in 44 volunteers ranging from 18 to 35 years old. The volunteers were classified on the basis of their vertical facial characteristics into three groups-brachyfacial, mesofacial, and dolicofacial-by the grouping analysis. The EMG records were obtained with three repetitions during mandibular rest, maximum voluntary contraction in intercuspidation, and simultaneous bilateral isotonic contraction. The Kolmogorov-Smimov and Levene tests were applied to verify the normality and homogeneity of variance. Analysis of variance and the Kruskal-Wallis test identified statistical differences among groups that did not present normality and homogeneity of distribution, respectively. Significance for all statistical tests was set at P <.05. Results: At rest, only the right temporal and masseter muscles presented statistically significant differences among the groups. The differences were observed between groups 1 and 2 (P =.02) and 1 and 3 (P =.038) for the right temporal muscle, and between groups 1 and 2 (P =.029) for the right masseter muscle. Generally, group 1 presented the lowest EMG values for the four muscles evaluated during rest. For isotonic evaluation, none of the groups of muscles presented statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Different vertical facial types do not determine distinct patterns of EMG activity for the masseter and anterior portion of temporal muscles during rest and bilateral mastication. (Angle Orthod. 2009;79:515-520.)79351552

Electromyographic evaluation of the upper lip according to the breathing mode: a longitudinal study

The present study aimed at analyzing and comparing longitudinally the EMG (electromyographic activity) of the superior orbicularis oris muscle according to the breathing mode. The sample, 38 adolescents with Angle Class II Division 1 malocclusion with predominantly nose (PNB) or mouth (PMB) breathing, was evaluated at two different periods, with a two-year interval between them. For that purpose, a 16channel electromyography machine was employed, which was properly calibrated in a PC equipped with an analogue-digital converter, with utilization of surface, passive and bipolar electrodes. The RMS data (root mean square) were collected at rest and in 12 movements and normalized according to time and amplitude, by the peak value of EMG, in order to allow comparisons between subjects and between periods. Comparison of the muscle function of PNB and PMB subjects at period 1 (P1), period 2 (P2) and the variation between periods (&#916;) did not reveal statistically significant differences between groups (p < 0.05). However, longitudinal evaluation of the muscle function in PNB and PMB subjects demonstrated different evolutions in the percentage of required EMG for accomplishment of the movements investigated. It was possible to conclude that there are differences in the percentage of electric activity of the upper lip with the growth of the subjects according to the breathing mode