Determinated area (DA) treatment goal when treating malocclusions with jaw functional orthopedics (JFO): Contribution to scientific evidence

Abstract

One of the goals of malocclusion treatment with Jaw Functional Orthopedics (JFO) is to obtain touch of the inferior incisors against the superior incisors in Determinate Area (DA). It is postulated that this touch would bring better stimuli and consequently faster results. Surface electromyographic study of the muscles was performed in Masseter, Temporal and suprahyoid muscles bilaterally from 159 patients undergoing malocclusion treatment with functional orthopedic appliances (FOA). To record muscle electric activity were used a conditioning signal module from Lynx Electronics Ltda with 8 channels, model EMG1000; software AqDAnalysis 4,18 from Lynx Electronics Ltda.; Software Lynx BioInspector 1,8r; passive surface electrodes (Ag/AgCl) from Noraxon Dual Electrodes (USA); dischargeable reference electrodes Kendall Meditrace (Ag/AgCl) – Canada. Frequency calibration was 2000 Hz, with 2048 sample by channel and time 1,024 seconds, and filters regulation was 20 Hz and 1000 Hz. The results found prove that there is a better electromyographic activity (bilaterally balanced) of the studied muscles when there is touch on DA. Conclusion. Touch in DA improves the neuromuscular response of patients treated with JFO. sEMG is a trustable tool to analyze masticatory muscles function for Diagnosis, Treatment and evaluation post treatment/gained objective.