Complete dentures with Nóbilo’s sliding plates: A condylar position and electromyograph analysis

Objective: This study was performed with the purpose a report clinical cases involving condylar position and Nóbilo’s sliding plates. Background: Patients may present temporomandibular disorder (TMD), which is characterized by pain in masticatory muscles, temporomandibular joints and limited mandible movements. Treatment involving oral rehabilitation with the use of complete dentures with Nóbilo’s sliding plates has been an alternative for the treatment of TMD. Materials and Methods: Nine patients with a history of TMD signs and symptoms (RDC/TMD)—in particular, muscular and articular pain—received pain evaluations, mandibular movement analysis, transcranial radiography and an electromyographic analysis of the masseter and temporalis muscles before and after the use of complete dentures with Nóbilo’s sliding plates. Results: After treatment, the patients had reduced painful symptoms, an increase in mandibular movement and adequate electromyographic activity. The normalized EMG data were tabulated and analyzed statistically using SPSS version 17.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), and the values were compared by umpaired independent Student’s t-test. Conclusion: The use of Nóbilo’s sliding plates promoted improvements in electromyographic activity, muscular pain and mandibular movement.