Young adults (Md 24) and Adults (Md 41) were examined with respect to the distribution of occlusal contacts in molars, premolars and anterior teeth when exerting light and hard pressure respectively in the habitual intercuspal position. There was no difference between the right and left side and the number of contacts per tooth was low. In all groups of teeth there was a smaller number of contacts at light pressure. The lower number of contacts at light pressure in Adults when comparing with Young adults was related only to the anterior teeth. The increase of the number of contacts at hard pressure was greater for the anterior teeth than for the molars. In cases where there was a greater number of contacts present on one side, the distribution did not alter significantly when changing from light to hard pressure. Neither did the articulator-adjusted intercuspal position differ significantly in this respect from the clinically recorded intercuspal position at hard pressure. A further result was that about 50% of the individuals had 60% or more contacts on one side at light pressure. These findings stress the importance of meticulous care when performing occlusal adjustment, as the number of contacts per tooth is low and indicates the need for observing the difference between light and hard pressure.

Premolar bite force was measured conventionally with a pressure transducer. During biting the tips of the buccal cusps made contact with the transducer. It was shown that the maximal bite force increased significantly if the eccentric load on the upper premolar was made centric and axial with respect to the transducer by covering the whole occlusal surface of the tooth with a plastic filling. Possible neurophysiological explanations of the difference in bite force are discussed. It is concluded that biting on a pressure transducer with an eccentric load cannot give a fair estimation of the true value of the maximal bite force during clenching in the position of intercuspidation.

In the experiments reported here the influence of eye closure upon the muscle tone in the region of the anterior temporal muscles was studied during mandibular rest in four patients with TMJ dysfunction and in four healthy subjects. The muscle activity as well as the cortical activity (EEG) of the patients was influenced by changes in visual stimulation. EMG (the anterior temporal region) and EEG (parieto-occipital region) were recorded with needle electrodes. Ongoing EMG activity was present in all patients when their eyes were open. Closure of both eyes reduced the muscle activity by 50-100%. Closure of one eye could also abolish all activity but the degree of this influence was variable. Opening of the eyes blocked the alpha rhythm in the EEG. Simultaneously, increased activity was observed in the region of the temporal muscle. The activity level in the temporal region of the healthy subjects was very low and could easily be reduced to noise level using ordinary relaxation manoeuvres without eye closure. The results reported here indicate that visual stimulation may increase muscle tone in the temporal region probably as part of an arousal reaction. It is, however, possible that the activity might stem not from the temporalis muscle but from the temporoparietalis.

No abstract

The amplitude of the jaw jerk action potential (MSP) is a parameter with possible diagnostic value. Standard values have, however, not yet been established. MSPs were recorded using surface EMG electrodes in the masseter and the anterior temporal muscles of young and elderly healthy males and females. The group means ranged from 0.26 to 2.11 mV in the masseter and from 0.17 to 0.81 mV in the anterior temporalis. The amplitude of MSP was higher in females than in males, decreased in elderly subjects and lower in the temporalis than in the masseter. The jaw jerk action potentials also were recorded in four subjects before and after L-Dopa administration. The amplitude increased by about 90%. It is concluded that the parameter MSP amplitude can be useful in the studies of muscle spindle sensitivity and the influence of various physiological, pathophysiological and pharmacological factors on the nervous regulation and muscle function in the masticatory system.