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Summary

Masticatory muscle physiology has been evaluated mostly from electromyographic recordings. However, electromyography coupled with jaw -tracking devices has provided much more information of the correlation between jaw movements and muscle activity.

Knowledge of how the mandible moves during mastication has greatly influenced procedures in clinical dentistry.

The aim of this overview is to give basic description of the classical studies of the physiology, function and neural control principles of the mastication.
Mastication is the action of breaking down of food, preparatory to deglutition. This breaking-down action is highly organized complex of neuromuscular and digestive activities.

The duration and forces developed in the power stroke vary within and between individuals and for the type of the food being chewed.

It has been suggested that the observation of masticatory movements may be of diagnostic value for assessing disorders of the stomatognathic system, but there is not clear evidence to show significant differences.

The action of masticatory muscles during chewing varies between subjects in amplitude, onset timing, and duration of the chewing cycle

Since tooth guidance has an enormous influence on muscle activity during chewing and swallowing, it is advisable to make restorations compatible with the functional movement patterns of the patient rather than expect the patterns of the mastication to adapt to the new made restorations.

Key words: mastication, chewing movement, chewing muscles

Received: 20 04 2005

Accepted for publishing: 20 08 2005

*Riga Stradins University (Latvia), Department of Prosthodontics.

Una Soboļeva* - D.D.S., Assistant professor, Head of the Department of Prosthodontics, Institute of Stomatology, Riga Stradins University.

Lija Lauriņa* - D.D.S.

Anda Slaidiņa* - D.D.S., PhD student.

Address correspondence to Department of Prosthodontics, Institute of Stomatology, 20 Dzirciema str., Riga LV 1007, Latvia.

E-mail: soboleva@latnet.lv



	Baltic Dental and Maxillofacial Journal

September, 2005, Vol. 7, No. 3 CONTENTS SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES Jaw tracking devices - historical review of methods development. Part I 67 - 71 Jaw tracking devices - historical review of methods development. Part II 72 - 76 The masticatory system - an overview 77 - 80 Oral parafunctions and positive clinical examination findings 81 - 83 Testing of the questionnaire on dental care satisfaction in a sample of adult patients visiting dental clinics at Faculty of Odontology, Kaunas University of Medicine. A Pilot study 84 - 89 Secretory function of neutrophilic leukocytes of the patients with periodontal diseases 90 - 94 5 year experience with lower lip cancer 95 - 98 © 2005 Stomatologija		Stomatologija 2005; 7 (3): 77-80 151 KB The masticatory system - an overview Una Soboļeva, Lija Lauriņa, Anda Slaidiņa Summary Masticatory muscle physiology has been evaluated mostly from electromyographic recordings. However, electromyography coupled with jaw -tracking devices has provided much more information of the correlation between jaw movements and muscle activity. Knowledge of how the mandible moves during mastication has greatly influenced procedures in clinical dentistry. The aim of this overview is to give basic description of the classical studies of the physiology, function and neural control principles of the mastication. Mastication is the action of breaking down of food, preparatory to deglutition. This breaking-down action is highly organized complex of neuromuscular and digestive activities. The duration and forces developed in the power stroke vary within and between individuals and for the type of the food being chewed. It has been suggested that the observation of masticatory movements may be of diagnostic value for assessing disorders of the stomatognathic system, but there is not clear evidence to show significant differences. The action of masticatory muscles during chewing varies between subjects in amplitude, onset timing, and duration of the chewing cycle Since tooth guidance has an enormous influence on muscle activity during chewing and swallowing, it is advisable to make restorations compatible with the functional movement patterns of the patient rather than expect the patterns of the mastication to adapt to the new made restorations. Key words: mastication, chewing movement, chewing muscles Received: 20 04 2005 Accepted for publishing: 20 08 2005 Riga Stradins University (Latvia), Department of Prosthodontics. Una Soboļeva - D.D.S., Assistant professor, Head of the Department of Prosthodontics, Institute of Stomatology, Riga Stradins University. Lija Lauriņa* - D.D.S. Anda Slaidiņa* - D.D.S., PhD student. Address correspondence to Department of Prosthodontics, Institute of Stomatology, 20 Dzirciema str., Riga LV 1007, Latvia. E-mail: soboleva@latnet.lv