Evaluation of mandibular rest position in subjects with diverse dentofacial morphology.

The kinesiometric and electromyographic findings from the evaluation of mandibular resting posture in 30 individuals with diverse vertical dentofacial morphology can be summarized as follows: 1. The RVD and TESP of the mandible are two distinctly different biologically dynamic neuromuscular entities. They differ with respect to their spatial position in that the RVD is 2.6 mm closer to centric occlusion than TESP. 2. The intrapersonal reproducibility of the RVD and TESP at various time intervals predictably demonstrated some biologic variability. 3. The occlusal neuromuscular mechanism apparently maintains a functional tone in the masticatory musculature at the RVD as a result of stimuli from the periodontal mechanoreceptors following tooth contact. 4. A physiologic range of neuromuscular adaptability exists within each diverse morphologic group. Adaptations are apparently mediated by the central nervous system and the musculoskeletal complex. 5. The interocclusal distance at the TESP is inversely related to the vertical dentofacial morphology. 6. Sophisticated computerized morphometrics in combination with the kinesiometric and electromyographic findings of this study demonstrate the dentoalveolar nature of VME and VMD and suggest that correction of these dentofacial deformities by various biologically compatible means will tend to normalize neuromuscular-skeletal relations.