Study of Disclusion Time during Mandibular Eccentric Movement in Myofascial Pain Syndrome Patients by T-Scan Ⅱ, Computerized Occlusal Analysis System

Abstract

Temporomandibular disorders(TMD) is a collective term which is embracing a number of clinical problems that involve the masticatory musculature, the TMJ and associated structures, or both. Myofascial pain, which is a kind of masticatory muscle disorder of TMD, is the sensory, motor, and autonomic symptoms caused by myofascial trigger points. There has been some controversies regarding etiologies of TMD and MFP. Especially the issue of occlusal conditions has been a critical issue for long time. Despite much efforts, the results of studies regarding occlusal conditions were contradictory. These controversies might be mostly due to various factors resulting from the complex nature of TMD, however, inaccurate and inappropriate study design, selection criteria, methodologies also play significant roles. Recently, a computerized occlusal analysis system, T-Scan Ⅱ which made it possible to reveal quantifiable time data and relative force data for analyzing occlusion, was introduced. Some authorities suggested that the concept of disclusion time and prolonged disclusion time of posterior tooth and MFP are related using T-Scan Ⅱ. But the previous studies which used T-SCAN Ⅱ are not reliable for they did not provide accurate diagnostic criteria of MFP. Morever they did not compare with controls, and had many other problems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between MFP and prolonged disclusion time of posterior tooth, which is one of the occlusal factors of TMD, by selecting 30 subjects as the study group through strict criteria and comparing them with 38 controls using T-SCAN Ⅱ, computerized occlusal analysis system. The results, statistically analyzed, are summarized as follows: 1. Cronbach α coefficient of repeated measurements of disclusion time was 0.92. 2. There were no statistically significant differences at repeated measured disclusion time of both side between control and study group. 3. There was no statistically significant diffefence in the disclusion time between right and left side. From the results above, we can suggest that there was no relationship between MFP and disclusion time, so irreversible treatments leading to the reduction of disclusion time for treating MFP would not be appropriate. However more controlled, large scaled study, which consider various occlusal factors, and quantification of symptoms using Helkimo index would be necessary in the future.