Effect of a prefabricated anterior bite stop on electromyographic activityof masticatory muscles

Statement of problem. Patients are often treated for signs and symptoms in the masticatory musculature, which may be manifested as pain and/or conditi ons that cause difficulty in recording jaw relation records. A quick, easy method to alleviate these signs and symptoms would be helpful. Purpose. This study measured the effect of a prefabricated anterior bite st op on the electromyographic activity of the anterior temporalis, posterior temporalis, masseter and anterior digastric during clenching, and grinding tasks. Material and methods. A prefabricated anterior bite stop was fabricated for 30 randomly selected subjects. Electromyographic surface electrodes were p laced on the right and left sides of these muscles. Electromyographic activ ity was measured during clenching and grinding both with and without the an terior bite stop. Results. The anterior bite stop had a significant effect in decreasing elec tromyographic activity for both clenching and grinding for all the tested m uscles, except the anterior digastric. Conclusions. For this patient population, the ready-made anterior bite stop reduced electromyographic muscle activity for the anterior and posterior t emporalis and the masseter muscles during both clenching and grinding.