Masticatory function and pressure pain threshold in patients presented with temporomandibular joint dysfunction

• Grant number: 17/00054-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2017
• End date: May 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Speech Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Giédre Berretin-Felix
• Grantee: Ariane Lourenço de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Temporomandibular dysfunctions encompass a group of disorders that involve the temporomandibular joints, the masticatory muscles and associated structures. Further studies on the influence of pain on chewing physiology should be carried out. The present study aims at verifying the relationship between the pressure pain threshold and the masticatory function in individuals presented with temporomandibular dysfunction. This is an observational, retrospective and cross-sectional study. Thus, part of the data already collected from 30 adults with disk displacement with reduction, within the project "Morphofunctional relations in temporomandibular disorders and in dentofacial deformities", will be analyzed. The participants had their pressure pain thresholds assessed by means of a digital algometer, and underwent chewing surface electromyography through the eight channel-BTS FREEMG 300 equipment. For the present study, the researcher will analyze the parameters obtained during the maximum voluntary contraction (overlapping percentage coefficient, the torque coefficient and the anteroposterior coefficient related to the Index of activity), as well as the indexes obtained during unilateral mastication, i.e., : Confidence ellipse (% ²), Module (%), Phase (°), Total Impact (%), Impact per cycle (%), Symmetrical Masticatory Index (SMI,%), difference between the working side and balance (%), as well as the Masticatory Frequency (cycles per second, Hz). After analysis, the data will be tabulated and submitted to the relevant statistical treatment. Masticatory function and pressure pain threshold in patients presented with temporomandibular joint dysfunction. (AU)