Electromyographic assessment of masticatory muscles activity in patients with severe alveolar bone atrophy with implant-supported fixed dental prostheses

Abstract

Objective – to assess masticatory muscles activity in patients with denture defects and severe alveolar bone atrophy in posterior maxillae rehabilitated by implant-supported fixed dental prostheses in different terms of treatment according to provided technique. Materials and methods. The effectiveness of prosthetic treatment with implant-supported fixed dental prostheses (FDP) and electromyographic (EMG) assessment of masticatory muscles activity were studied among 67 patients, who were treated between 2012 and 2017. There were 29 (43.3 %) men and 38 (56.7 %) women; the average age of patients was 35.7 ± 12.0 years. All patients had one- or two-sided terminal dentition defects in posterior maxillary region without severe periodontal or general pathology. Prosthetic treatment was performed on root-form osseointegrated dental implants with a screw design. Partially dentate patients were divided into three study groups depending on treatment method provided. The functional activity of masticatory muscles was detected. Results. Comparative assessment of the masticatory muscles functional activity changes in patients with severe bone atrophy of posterior maxillae after different methods of prosthetic treatment by implant-supported fixed dental prostheses was performed. The retrieval rate of masticatory muscles functional activity in patients with severely atrophied posterior maxillae depends on the terms of orthopedic rehabilitation and explicit timing of implant-supported dental prostheses application. The increase in bioelectrical activity values and asymmetry of masticatory muscles activity reduction in case of osteotome sinus floor elevation with lateral approach by means of atraumatic technique and simultaneous implant insertion as well as in case of direct short implants placement testify strong tendency to normalization of functional masticatory activity, needed for appropriate prosthetic rehabilitation of dentate patients. Conclusions. Osteotome sinus floor elevation with lateral approach by means of atraumatic technique and direct implant insertion into crestal bone in dentate atrophic posterior maxillae provides favourable conditions for rapid normalization of masticatory activity in comparison with the conventional treatment. Short-length implants are proved as acceptable alternative to sinus lifting procedures and have both clinical and financial advantages.

Keywords

• dental prostheses
• implants
• masticatory muscles
• sinus floor augmentation
• functional loading