Effects of the functional orthopaedic therapy on masticatory muscles activity

Background The purpose of this study was to examine surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity of masticatory muscles before and after functional orthopaedic therapy with Sander appliance. Material and Methods Ten adolescents (5 girls, 5 boys) with an Angle Class II, division I malocclusion, 9-13 years old, were submitted to sEMG before and after functional orthopaedic therapy. To verify the neuromuscular equilibrium, the standardized EMG activities of right and left masseter and anterior temporal muscles were recorded during maximum voluntary clench, and analysed calculating: POC (index of the symmetric distribution of the muscular activity determined by the occlusion); TC (index of presenc…