Evaluation of the masticatory muscles' structure and function using contemporary examination techniques in people with various forms of facial skull growth

Abstract

The study's objective was to determine, using cutting-edge research techniques, the relationship between the masticatory muscles' structural and functional state and the kind of growth of the facial skull. For the study, 48 participants with normal occlusion between the ages of 18 and 25 were chosen. Based on the lateral cephalogram analysis in the lateral projection, all investigated individuals were categorized into three groups: neutral, vertical, and horizontal, based on the kind of growth of the facial skull. X-rays were converted to digital format via the "ViSurgery" web service. Every individual underwent a functional examination using the "Maximum bite force in the dentition" test, myotonometry, electromyography, and ultrasonography of the masticatory muscles while the muscles were at a relative physiological rest. The Student's t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient (r) were utilized for statistical data processing techniques related to descriptive statistics. The primary findings of the research demonstrated the presence of a significant number of high correlations between the type of growth of the facial skull and markers of the functional activity of the masticatory muscles, as well as the symmetric distribution of the studied issues, which indicates the steady activity of the masticatory muscles.