Abstract
On the basis on a definition of mandibular supporting composite as an assembly of elastic, viscous and muscular contractile elements that concern mandibular positioning, in this study we tried to explore a possibility to evaluate muscular symptoms objectively by means of a kinetic evaluation of mandibular supporting composite in passive movement.
Two male subjects volunteered to be applied a sudden load on their mandible while they kept their rest position. Mandibular movement and electromyogram were simultaneously recorded during loading. Afterwards, subjects were requested to clench by their maximum voluntary force as long as possible for experimental task to induce fatigue-like feeling. The effect of task and fatigue-like feeling was also observed at immediately, 24 hours and 48 hours after the task.
It was noted that passive opening movement was observed quite similar at repeated registration in each subject. Opening speed at initial 20 (ms) decreased immediately after the task in every subject. From 24 hours after the task, the opening speed was restored in various ways. These results suggest that kinetic analysis of mandibular supporting composite in passive movement could be used to evaluate the muscular symptoms of patients with temporomandibular disorder objectively.
