ELECTROMYOGRAPHY DURING CHEWING MOVEMENT IN PATIENTS WITH ANTERIOR DISC DISPLACEMENT OF THE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR-JOINT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of electromyogr aphy in patients with anterior disc displacement (ADD) of the temporom andibular joint (TMJ), Electromyography (EMG) during chewing movement was evaluated in 48 women with unilateral ADD of the TMJ (21 patients with ADD with reduction and 27 with ADD without reduction). As a centr al group, 31 women without TMJ dysfunction were evaluated. The duratio n of contraction, latency cycle lime, and integrated value on the EMC were measured in the patients and controls. There were significant dif ferences between the patients and controls in the duration of contract ion, cycle time, and integrated value. However, there were no differen ces in any measurements between the two subgroup patients. EMG appeare d to be a method of documenting that masticatory function was impaired in patients.with ADD.