Occlusal adjustment for a physiologically balanced occlusion.

An investigation of the neuromuscular effects of dental contact at the physiologic median occlusal position was conducted before and after occlusal adjustments. Eighteen patients with histories of functional disturbances of the masticatory system, but whose painful symptoms had subsided, were analyzed before and after occlusal adjustments. Nine of the patients with missing teeth received fixed partial dentures and occlusal adjustments. Another group of nine subjects with normal occlusions were used as controls. Electromyographic recordings of the bilateral temporal and masseter muscles enabled quantification of two reflex parameters, the EMG silent period duration, and the mechanical latency of the jaw-opening reflex. Phase-plane traces of jaw-closing velocity as a function of position displayed the repeatability of the median occlusal position. The statistical analysis disclosed that the mean duration of EMG silent periods and latency of the jaw-opening reflex were significantly reduced following the treatment procedures. Within the limits of this study it was concluded that the described occlusal adjustments will reduce the masticatory reflexes evoked at median occlusal position to within the range of normal subjects. Furthermore these changes can be monitored by electrophysical methods.