Resumo

VERAS, Adelsilene das Graças; LIBERATO, Maria Astrid Rocha; ZANETTI, Raquel Virginia  e  FELTRIN, Pedro Paulo. Influence of temporomandibular joint dysfunction on the development of the masseter muscle standard thickness. RGO, Rev. gaúch. odontol. (Online) [online]. 2013, vol.61, n.4, pp. 603-607. ISSN 1981-8637.

Objective To evaluate the occurrence of alterations in the thickness of Masseter, through non-invasive technique of image ultrasonography, in subjects with temporomandibular joint disorder. Methods The thickness of Masseter muscle was measured by bilateral, transverse sections, in real time, through image ultrasonography, in thirty-five volunteers, from 19 to 45 years, who were classified in two groups: Group A - symptomatic patients (21 volunteers - 10 men and 11 women), and Group B - asymptomatic patients (14 volunteers - 7 of each gender). Results The results were submitted to the test t of Student for independent samples (p≤ 0.05). The masculine Masseter measured were shown to be bigger than the feminine ones in both the groups. Among the participants of the Groups A and B, the width and length of the Masseter muscles, left and right, are, on average, 23% and 12%, respectively, bigger in men. However, no differences were found in the thickness of this muscle between the subjects with or without temporomandibular disorders. Conclusion The measurement of the Masseter muscle thickness, by Ultrasonography images, is not conclusive for temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

Palavras-chave : Bite strength.; Masseter muscle.; Mastication.; Ultrasonography..