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Effects of a bite‐raising splint on the duration of the chewing cycle and the EMG activities of masticatory muscles during chewing in freely moving rabbits
Author(s) -
Yoko Matsuka,
Yasuyuki Kitada,
Yoshihiro Mitoh,
Akira Adachi,
Atsushi Yamashita
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of oral rehabilitation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-2842
pISSN - 0305-182X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2842.1998.00210.x
Subject(s) - digastric muscle , masticatory force , splints , medicine , mastication , splint (medicine) , molar , orthodontics , masseter muscle , dentistry , electromyography , anatomy , physical medicine and rehabilitation
Metal bite‐raising splints of 0.5 mm thickness were attached to the upper molar teeth on both sides of the jaw in rabbits. The effects of these splints on masticatory behaviour during the chewing of soft food (bread) by freely moving rabbits were investigated. We recorded electromyograms (EMGs) of the masseter and digastric muscles. The animals exhibited prolongation of the chewing cycle, decreased EMG activity of the masseter muscle and increased EMG activity of the digastric muscle during chewing after introduction of the bite‐raising splints. The effects of the splints on the activities of masticatory muscles were abolished by bilateral sectioning of the maxillary and inferior alveolar nerves. It seems likely that afferents from oral sensory receptors were responsible for the changes in masticatory behaviour after the introduction of the occlusal splint.