ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC ANALISYS OF MASSETER WOMEN PRESENTING SLEEP BRUXISM AFTER OCCLUSAL SPLINTS WEARING: a pilot study

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the electric activity of masseter muscles through surface electromyography (EMG) and the efficiency of occlusal splints in women who present sleep bruxism (SB). SB was defined by its clinical characteristics. For the surface EMG study, a system of registration of signs was used and silver bipolar electrodes with 10mm diameter, positioned on motor points. The acquisition was done during mandible occlusion without clenching and maximum voluntary contraction in two situations. The first was the reception of the EMG signs of masseter muscles of all subjects after a work day without using of the occlusal splint; and the second, after a sleeping night using occlusal splints. Evaluating masseter muscles during mandible occlusion without clenching, it could be observed that lower values were noticed after splint wearing in both sides. The same results were verified in maximum voluntary contraction. These results confirmed that the use of occlusal splints for SB women reduced the myoelectric activity of the right and left masseters, showing its myorelaxing effect.