Masticatory Performance In Subjects With Class II Treated With Myofunctional Appliances: A Review

Abstract

Aim: To present the results obtained from several different studies of the muscle activity of masticatory and perioral muscles in subjects with class II, as well as the effects of myofunctional appliances on the muscle activity during the treatment of Class II, harmful oral habits and soft tissue dysfunctions. Materials and Methods: This review included 10 studies searched online in the PubMed database, which applied functional methods for masticatory evaluation. The search was carried out under the key words "mastication" "masticatory efficiency", "Class II," "myofunctional therapy", "electromyography", "masticatory muscles." Results and Discussion: The results show that most of the authors in their researches applied the electromyography as a neurophysiological, graphical method for objective assessment of mastication and determination of the characteristics of EMG muscle activity of masticatory and perioral muscles. Conclusions: According to the electromyographic characteristic of masseteric muscle activity, there are differences in the masticatory activity in subjects with Class I and Class II, as well as between Class II/1 and Class II/2. The myofunctional appliances have a positive impact on the masticatory function.