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Correlation of masticatory muscle activity and occlusal function with craniofacial morphology: a prospective cohort study

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Abstract

Objectives

Masticatory function, including masticatory muscle activity and occlusal function, can be affected by craniofacial morphology. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between craniofacial morphology and masticatory function in participants who had completed orthodontic treatment at least two years before and had stable occlusion.

Materials and Methods

Fourty-two healthy participants were prospectively enrolled and divided into three vertical cephalometric groups according to the mandibular plane angle. Masticatory muscle activity (MMA) in the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles was assessed using surface electromyography. The occlusal contact area (OCA) and occlusal force (OF), defined as occlusal function in this study, were evaluated using occlusal pressure mapping system. Masticatory muscle efficiency (MME) was calculated by dividing MMA by OF. The craniofacial morphology was analyzed using a lateral cephalogram. The masticatory function was compared using one-way analysis of variance. Pearson correlations were used to assess relationships between craniofacial morphology and masticatory function.

Results

The hypodivergent group had the lowest MMAand the highest MME in the masseter (167.32 ± 74.92 µV and 0.14 ± 0.06 µV/N, respectively) and anterior temporalis muscles (0.18 ± 0.08 µV/N, p < 0.05). MMA in the masseter showed a positive relationship with mandibular plane angle (r = 0.358), whereas OCA (r = -0.422) and OF (r = -0.383) demonstrated a negative relationship (p < 0.05). The anterior temporalis muscle activity negatively correlated with ramus height (r = -0.364, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Vertical craniofacial morphology was related to masticatory function. Hypodivergent individuals may have low MMA and high occlusal function, resulting in good masticatory muscle efficiency.

Clinical relevance

Hypodivergent individuals require careful consideration in orthodontic diagnosis and prosthetic treatment planning.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (No. NRF-2020R1F1A1069316).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthodontics, Institute of Craniofacial Deformity, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Korea

    Yu Jung Yoon, Ju-Young Kang, Kyung-Ho Kim, Jung-Yul Cha & Yoon Jeong Choi

  2. Department of Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea

    Hyung Joon Ahn

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  1. Yu Jung Yoon
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Contributions

• Data collection: Yu Jung Yoon, Ju-Young Kang, and Yoon Jeong Choi

• Data analysis and visualization: Yu Jung Yoon, Ju-Young Kang, Kyung-Ho Kim, Jung-Yul Cha, and Yoon Jeong Choi

• Writing—original draft: Yu Jung Yoon and Ju-Young Kang

• Writing – review & editing: Kyung-Ho Kim, Jung-Yul Cha, Hyung Joon Ahn, and Yoon Jeong Choi

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Correspondence to Yoon Jeong Choi.

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Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was conducted prospectively after receiving approval from the Institutional Review Board of the Yonsei University Dental Hospital (IRB No. 2–2020-0057). Informed consent was obtained from each participant before the examination.

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All authors have no financial disclosures or conflicts of interest to declare.

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Yoon, Y.J., Kang, JY., Kim, KH. et al. Correlation of masticatory muscle activity and occlusal function with craniofacial morphology: a prospective cohort study. Clin Oral Invest 27, 5367–5376 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-023-05156-2

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