Masseter Muscle Thickness and Craniofacial Skeletal Patterns

Kutahya Health Sciences University101 enrolled

Overview

Facial morphology is influenced by hard and soft tissues, including bone and muscle. While numerous factors can lead to changes in bone tissue, soft tissues such as muscle also have an important influence. It is widely acknowledged that the function, shape and thickness of masticatory muscles have substantial effects on facial morphology and skeletal development, and are correlate with other anthropometric variables. Furthermore, a correlation has been observed between masseter muscle thickness and various characteristics of the dental arches, such as alveolar process thickness and intermaxillary width. The evaluation of soft tissue in the region of the face is a more challenging process in comparison to that of hard tissue.The recent development of cone beam computed tomography has improved the analysis of three-dimensional skeletal morphology and jaw. However, the radiographic assessment of soft tissue remains more difficult.The thickness of masticatory muscles can be measured using computerised tomography; however, this has the disadvantage of exposing the patient to radiation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging technique that can be used to assess soft tissues. However, this technique is expensive and time-consuming. Furthermore, MRI is a static rather than a dynamic imaging technique, which makes it difficult to analyse during muscle contraction and relaxation. Ultrasound is a technique that provides dynamic imaging that can assess the masticatory muscles without the use of ionising radiation. There are many publications in the literature that indicate that malocclusions in the vertical and sagittal dimensions can be assessed with measurements from lateral cephalometric radiographs.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

101

Conditions

Masseter Ultrasonography Malocclusions

Interventions

UltrasonographyOTHER

The masseter muscle thickness measurements were performed in B mode of ultrasound, midline between the zygomatic arch and mandibular plane, parallel to the mandibular plane and perpendicular to the mandibular ramus. Prior to the examination being performed in the resting position, the patient was instructed to make minimal contact between the lips without the teeth touching each other.The first USG image was recorded in this position. The patient was then requested to clench their teeth as firmly as possible, after which a second USG image was recorded from the same area. The thickness of the muscles was measured again on second recorded images. To ensure the reliability of the measurements, these procedures were repeated by the same researcher after the patients rested for five minutes.

Lateral cephalometric radiographyOTHER

Standard lateral cephalometric radiographs were obtained from the patients.

Facial photographOTHER

Standard facial photographs were taken from a distance of 1.5 metres.

Weigth and HeigthOTHER

The Body Mass Index is calculated by measuring with a standardised scale and height chart.

Electronic caliperOTHER

The intermaxillary distance is measured from the cervical level of the palatal surfaces of the first permanent molars to their mesial corners using an electronic caliper.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 MinutesHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: Patients who * Patients who were 18 years of age or older, * had skeletal malocclusion, * were systemically healthy, * were not taking any medication, * had no missing teeth except for the third molars, * had no history of congenital and/or acquired anomalies in the lips, mouth and facial regions, * had not received orthodontic treatment before Exclusion Criteria: Patients who * were younger than 18 years of age * were with systemic disease, * used antidepressant drugs before, * has bruxism habit, * had orthodontic treatment or has active orthodontic treatment, * had history of trauma and surgery in the maxillofacial region

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

The correlation between masseter muscle thickness and sagittal skeletal malocclusions

The masseter muscle was measured in millimetres using ultrasound, while different skeletal malocclusions were classified using the angles between anatomical landmarks on lateral cephalometric radiographs. Intertermolar distance was measured in millimetres using an electronic caliper intraorally in the clinic. Facial index was calculated and classified using standard facial photographs, with millimetre measurements obtained using ImageJ software. The patients' height and weight were measured in centimetres and kilograms, respectively, and their body mass index was calculated.

Time frame: Just at the enrollment of the patients