Electromyographic and patient-reported outcomes of a computer-guided occlusal adjustment performed on patients suffering from chronic myofascial pain

OBJECTIVES Muscular hyperactivity is a potential source of symptoms in patients with temporal-mandibular disorders. An adequate occlusal adjustment may relieve such symptoms. This study aims to measure the effect of shortening the protrusive disclusion time (DT) and balancing the center of occlusal forces (COF) on the EMG recordings and assess the pain reported by chronic patients one month after the computer-guided occlusal adjustment. STUDY DESIGN The sample studied comprised 34 patients suffering from chronic facial pain in which the EMG activity of both masseters was recorded by electromyography. By selective grinding we alleviated all the occlusal interferences during the mandibular protrusion from the habitual closure position in order to establish an immediate posterior disclusion and an equilibration of the COF. RESULTS At follow-up 76.5% of the patients reported no facial pain. Moreover, the EMG activity and protrusive DT were significantly reduced, and occlusal and muscular function were significantly more symmetric than at baseline. CONCLUSIONS According to this EMG study, this computer-guided occlusal adjustment is able to reduce the activity of the masseters and the self-reported muscular pain of patients one-month after treatment.