ALENCAR, L. B. B.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/2178316687807493; ALENCAR, Layla Beatriz Barroso de.
Resumo:
Introduction: Child bruxism may be responsible for craniomandibular disorders, headaches,
temporomandibular disorders (TMD), muscle pain, sleep disruption, among other problems. In
this sense, such behavior must be diagnosed, aiming to control this behavior, through the report
of parents or guardians and intraoral physical examination, in addition to clinical examinations,
using the electromyograph. Objective: To carry out an electromyographic analysis of the
masseter and temporal muscles, as well as to verify their relation with associated factors in
children with and without bruxism, treated at a dental clinic in Paraíba. Methodology: The
study was observational cross-sectional, in which 24 children were selected and divided into
two groups (12 in the group with bruxism and 12 in the group without bruxism). In both groups,
the electrical activity of the muscles was evaluated through the electromyographic examination
(EMG), with the Root Mean Square (RMS) being collected in situations of muscle rest,
maximum intercuspation and rhythmic chewing. In addition, the facial pattern, the presence of
malocclusions and habits such as thumb sucking, pacifier use and nail biting were checked. The
significance level was set at p < 0.05. All analyzes were conducted using the IBM SPSS
Statistics software, version 20.0, considering a 95% confidence interval. Results: There was no
statistically significant difference (p-values > 0.05) between the groups regarding habits
occlusal alterations, facial pattern and temporal muscle. However, children with bruxism had a
lower electromyographic activity in masseter muscle at rest, maximum intercuspation and
rhythmic mastication when compared to children without bruxism (p<0.05). Conclusion: The
children with bruxism in this study showed a decrease in the EMG activity of the masseter
muscle. This discovery may provide the scientific community a better understanding of the
physical impact that this behavior can have on the infant stomatognathic system.