by Clayton A. Chan, DDS, MICCMO
Dentist are using electro-diagnostic technology to objectively measure and quantify muscles responses of their patients. By measuring muscles response before, mid and after dental treatment, the dentist and patient are able to see without biase muscle responses to occlusal therapy whether it is effective or not. Measuring muscle activity for the temporalis anterior, massetter, diagastric/suprahyoid and cervical group muscle can give insightful and valid information as to how effective a particular mode of therapy is relative to mandibular jaw positioning, occlusal adjustments and muscles at rest.
Electromyography (EMG Raw data) is the unfiltered signal of muscle firing, showing the relative resting activity of the masticatory (or cervical) muscles. It also shows the degree of muscle relaxation at the accommodative (habitual) rest position and the amount of tension in each muscle relative to one another.
The low level motor unit activity is averaged over time to quantitate the amount of electrical activity required for postural maintenance. After TENS and muscle relaxation can also shows the degree of muscle relaxation at the physiologic rest position in mV and the amount of tension in each muscle relative to one another after TENS. Dentist can also measure EMG activity before orthodontic, TMD and restorative therapy.
This young 13 year old female presented with many musculoskeletal signs and symptoms relating to headaches on the top and side of her head. She experienced facial pain, neck and shoulder pain as well as clicking and popping in her jaw joints. These two EMGs show the before orthodontic treatment and after orthodontic treatment. Today the patient reports no longer having any headaches, no facial pain, no pain in her shoulders or neck (see improved cervical neck group – LCG – left cervical group and RCG – right cervical group). Also note the improved temporalis anterior muscles (LTA and RTA) .
Measured muscles can be quantified objectively by today’s treating clinicians, reducing room for doubt and question that an improved muscle status of this patient has occured with factual evidence.
