[Muscle action potential and masticatory rhythm of anterior temporal and masseter muscles in children and adults].

For the investigation of the functional change of the masticatory muscles along with growth and development, electromyographic evaluation was carried out. The subjects were 6 children (5 males and 1 female) with full deciduous dentition (Hellman's dental age IIA) aged 4.5 +/- 0.2 years and 6 adults (4 males and 2 females) with full permanent dentition aged 27.7 +/- 3.8 years. EMG signals were recorded bilaterally by means of bipolar silver surface electrodes from the anterior temporal and masseter muscles when the subjects were chewing chewing gum or performing maximum clenches in intercuspal position. The cumulative power values from 62.5 to 1000 Hz in the EMG power spectrum during chewing or clenching were calculated as the muscle action potential. The ratio of the action potential of each muscle to the total action potential of four muscles were analyzed. Masticatory rhythm during chewing was analyzed by means of the time parameter (duration, interval and cycle) and their coefficients of variation. The results were as follows: 1. In children the temporal muscles predominated in chewing and clenching, whereas in adults there were three types with Temporal muscles predominating, Masseter muscles predominating and both muscles sharing equally. 2. No statistically significant differences between children and adults were observed in the duration, interval and cycle. 3. In adults the coefficients of variation of the duration, interval and cycle were smaller and the masticatory rhythm was more stable than in children.