Laterotrusive occlusal schemes and jaw posture tasks effects on supra- and infrahyoid EMG activity in the lateral decubitus position.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of canine guidance and group function on supra- and infrahyoid EMG activity in the lateral decubitus position at different jaw posture tasks. The sample included 40 healthy subjects with natural dentition and bilateral molar support, 20 with bilateral canine guidance and 20 with bilateral group function. An inclusion criterion was that subjects had to be free of signs and symptoms of any dysfunction of the masticatory system. Bipolar surface electrodes were located on the left supra- and infrahyoid muscles for EMG recordings. In the lateral decubitus position, EMG activity was recorded in subjects with canine guidance or group function, during the following jaw posture tasks: A. maximal clenching in the edge-to edge lateral contact position; B. grinding from intercuspal position to edge-to-edge lateral contact position, and C. grinding from edge-to-edge lateral contact position to intercuspal position. Supra- and infrahyoid EMG activity was not significantly different with canine guidance or group function (mixed model with unstructured covariance matrix). Overall comparison of suprahyoid or infrahyoid EMG activity among the three jaw posture tasks studied showed a significantly higher activity during jaw posture task A (clenching) than jaw posture tasks B and C (grinding). Suprahyoid EMG activity was significantly higher during jaw posture task C than B, whereas infrahyoid EMG activity did not present a significant difference between jaw posture tasks C and B. These EMG patterns observed could be of clinical importance in the presence of parafunctional habits, i.e., clenching and/or grinding. The neurophysiological mechanisms involved are discussed.

Effects of laterotrusive occlusal scheme and body position on bilateral sternocleidomastoid EMG activity.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of laterotrusive occlusal scheme and body position on bilateral sternocleidomastoid electromyographic (EMG) activity. The study was performed on 20 healthy subjects with natural dentition and bilateral molar support. During laterotrusive occlusal excursion (working side), each individual had to present canine guidance on one side and group function on the opposite side, without balancing-side contacts. Integrated EMG (IEMG) recordings were performed by placing bipolar surface electrodes on the right and left sternocleidomastoid muscles. IEMG activity was recorded seated upright with the head unsupported and in the right and the left lateral decubitus body positions (head, neck and body horizontally aligned), under the following experimental conditions: 1. Maximal voluntary clenching in the intercuspal position; 2. Laterotrusive occlusal excursion with canine guidance; 3. Laterotrusive occlusal excursion with group function. Bilateral sternocleidomastoid IEMG activity with canine guidance or group function was significantly lower than the intercuspal position in both body positions. In the seated upright position, significantly lower activity was observed with canine guidance than in group function. In the lateral decubitus position activity was similar with both laterotrusive occlusal schemes and significantly higher than seated upright. Results suggest that both laterotrusive occlusal scheme and body position have significant influence on sternocleidomastoid IEMG activity. The clinical relevance of both factors is discussed.