Effect of four conservative treatment methods on the muscular activity of masseter and temporalis muscles for subjects with temporomandibular joint disc displacement with reduction

Objective: This study was conducted to study the effect of four different treatment methods on the muscular activity of masseter and temporalis muscles of patients with temporomandibular disc displacement with reduction. Subjects and methods: Total 100 patients were selected. The selected patients were 64 females and 36 males with mean age about 31 years. The selected patients were divided equally into four groups: patients in group I were treated with behavioral therapy; patients of group II had a low-level laser therapy; patients of group III received anterior repositioning splints; patients of group IV received a flat plane splints. Activities of masseter and temporalis muscles were evaluated using surface electromyography (EMG). Statistical analysis was done using one-way ANOVA test for comparison between groups. Within each group, comparison between baseline and after treatment was done using paired t-test (p<0.05). Results : All groups showed significant increase in the muscular activity after 6 months of treatment except behavioral therapy group. The flat splint showed the highest value, and the behavioral therapy group showed the lowest value. Conclusion : Treatment with occlusal splints significantly increased the masticatory muscles activity, and the other lines of treatment can be considered as an adjunctive therapy.