Impact of non-surgical periodontal therapy on non-functional masticatory muscle activities: a case-control study
Tommaso Gotti, Dr. Isabella De Rubertis, Prof. Nicola Discepoli, Prof. Marco Ferrari, Prof. Daniele Manfredini
School of Dentistry and Dental Prosthodontics, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
Objectives
This investigation aims at assessing the association between non-functional masticatory muscle activity (NF-MMA) (i.e., mandible bracing, teeth grinding…) and periodontal status as well as evaluating the NF-MMA variation in response to the non-surgical periodontal treatment (NSPT).
Materials and Methods
9 Patients with diagnosed stage III/IV periodontitis (test group) and 11 healthy patients (control group) were enrolled in the dentistry department of the University of Siena. Exclusion criteria were assumption of myorelaxant drugs, systemic diseases and incapability of self-performing oral hygiene.
All subjects underwent a protocol of 24-hour in-home recordings of masseter muscle activity using surface electromyography via a portable device, for a total of 2 series of three recordings each.
At baseline (T0), an extra- and intra-oral examination and a full-mouth periodontal charting were performed, together with the first series of recordings. One week after (T1), all subjects received NSPT following the European Federation of Periodontology guidelines. The second series of recordings was performed three months after T1 (T2).
Results
The Bruxism Time Index (BTI) (percentage of time presenting NF-MMA with respect to the total recording time) at baseline was comparable between the two groups, both for Awake-BTI (A-BTI)(2.52% control vs 3.47% test) and Sleep-BTI (S-BTI) (0.95% vs 1.14%).
After NSPT, the periodontal status of both groups significantly improved in T2 (Paired T-Test) (p=0.009 control group; p=0.01 test group).
Intraclass comparisons (Paired T Test) displayed an increase in A-BTI (3.47% vs 5.34%; p=0.023) and in S-BTI (1.14% vs 2.00%; p=0.07) in the test group at T2, while in the control group both variables were not significantly changed (A-BTI p=0.58; S-BTI p=0.94).
Conclusions
Within the limitations of the current protocol, this study provides data concerning the relationship between NSPT, which improves periodontal health and stability, and NF-MMA, highlighting that the frequency of NF-MMA might increase in periodontal patients after NSPT.