IMPROVEMENT OF MASTICATORY FUNCTION AFTER ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT - 2 CASE-REPORTS

In patients with temporomandibular joints dysfunction (TMD), the masti catory function is often altered in that: (1) the intercuspal position (ICP) is less frequently achieved; (2) the mean vertical displacement from ICP at the end of opening is above normal; and (3) the isometric muscle contraction pattern during closure tends to be suppressed. We describe two cases of growing patients with severe malocclusion, who s howed the same functional alterations as patients with TMJ before trea tment, and normalization of the masticatory function after orthodontic s.