Silent period-dentate, edentulous, and patients with craniomandibular dysfunction

• Published in: The Journal of craniofacial surgery Vol. 21; no. 5; p. 1641
• Main Authors: Goiato, Marcelo Coelho, Haddad, Marcela Filiè, dos Santos, Daniela Micheline, Garcia, Alício Rosalino, Zuim, Paulo Renato Junqueira, Zavanelli, Adriana Cristina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2010
• Subjects: Electromyography; Humans; Masticatory Muscles - physiology; Masticatory Muscles - physiopathology; Motor Cortex - physiology; Motor Cortex - physiopathology; Motor Neurons - physiology; Mouth, Edentulous - physiopathology; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Neural Inhibition - physiology; Reflex - physiology; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders - physiopathology; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
• ISSN: 1536-3732
• DOI: 10.1097/SCS.0b013e3181ec69ee

The record of electrical activity of elevator muscles in mandible is important for the evaluation of muscular potency and diagnosis of neuromuscular pathologies, which allows prevention and treatment. The aim of this study was to define silent periods (SPs) and the importance in dentistry and compare the SPs in masticatory muscles of dentate and edentulous patients wearing prosthesis considering the presence or absence of craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD). Literature review in PubMed database. Silent periods are isolated pulses of transcranial magnetic stimulation in the primary motor cortex during voluntary muscular activity that generates an interruption of muscular activity for hundredths of milliseconds. The SP duration depends on the patient (dentate or edentulous), type of stimulus, and presence of CMD. The SP is higher in complete edentulous patients and in individuals with occlusal disharmonies than in dentate patients without CMDs. The treatment of CMDs through occlusal therapy decreases SP duration.