Effect of periodontal disease on electromyographic activity of muscles of mastication: A cross‐sectional study.

Aim: This study aims to compare surface electromyographic activities (EMG) of four muscles, that is anterior temporalis (AT), masseter (MST), sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and anterior belly of digastric (ABD), between chronic periodontitis patients and periodontally healthy individuals as well as to correlate these EMG findings with periodontal parameters. Methods: Thirty chronic periodontitis patients were recruited in Group I and 30 periodontally healthy individuals in Group II. Clenching and resting EMG for 4 muscles (AT, MST, SCM and ABD) were recorded for each participant. These EMG values were compared between the groups and correlated with periodontal parameters (plaque index, modified sulcular bleeding index, probing depth and clinical attachment loss). Results: Resting EMG (rEMG) showed no significant difference between the groups for any muscle. Clenching EMG (cEMG) values were significantly lower in Group I than Group II for AT and MST (P =.001), but not so for SCM and ABD. Within Group I, AT and MST showed a significant negative correlation of cEMG with probing depth and clinical attachment loss (P <.05). Conclusion: Electrical muscle activities of AT and MST are lower in chronic periodontitis than periodontally healthy individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]