Evaluation of stomatognathic function in orthodontic treatment.

AIM: To evaluate changes in stomatognathic function related to orthodontic treatment in 4 patients with various types of dysfunction of the stomatognathic system present prior to orthodontic treatment. METHODS: Four patients who visited the Orthodontic Clinic at Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital and whose active orthodontic treatment was complete were analyzed both morphologically and functionally. To analyze stomatognathic function, electromyographic activity of the masticatory muscles and mandibular movements was recorded. RESULTS: In all 4 patients, changes in stomatognathic function were observed following improvements in craniofacial structural and interocclusal relationships. Many of these changes consisted of elimination of functional disharmony, although the cause-effect relationship between these functional changes and orthodontic treatment is unclear. CONCLUSION: Functional analysis during orthodontic treatment can provide useful information concerning the relationship between craniofacial structures and stomatognathic function.