Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the functional disturbances of chewing found in the cerebral palsy patients. Twenty cerebral palsy children (C. P. group) were the subjects in the present study and were compared with normal children (control group), none of whom had any occlusal disturbances.
The evaluation of the functional disturbances was made by examining the EMG of masticatory muscles such as the temporal anterior muscles and the masseter muscles on both side. Then the EMG was recorded when the child was asked to practice free tapping (76 times/min. ) and to chew kamaboko (fish cake)and chewing gum.
From the results obtained in the present study it was found that a different variety of occlusal dysfunction was noticed in the cerebral palsy children, and the author made a classification of four different grades of occlusal dysfunction based on severity. This classification may be considered to be helpful for the evaluation of improvement after occlusal functional training is achived for the C. P. patients.
