Resumen

ALFARO-MOCTEZUMA, Patricia et al. Inhibitory masseteric reflex in children: Influence of the stages of the dentition and occlusal interferences. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2006, vol.63, n.3, pp.178-186. ISSN 1665-1146.

Introduction. The inhibitory masseteric reflex (IMR) evoked by means of stimulation of diverse intra or extra oral sites and during voluntary contraction of elevators muscles of the jaw; the main observed phenomenon is a period of silence or inhibitory wave in electromyogram of the mentioned muscles, whose function is to protect the oral structures and to control the bite force, followed by a potentiation wave that, in healthy adult subjects, is always minor that the inhibitory one. Material and methods. Twenty eight children were studied with temporary, mixed and permanent dentition, 17 without dental malocclusion and 11 with occlusal interferences. The IMR was registered by electromyography techniques, applying stimulus on the chin. Twenty stimuli were applied and averaged to obtain a reflexigram in which was measured: latency, duration and amplitude of the inhibitory wave and potentiation wave on both sides. Results. Clusters analysis identified interaction between IMR with dentition and occlusal interferences with statistically significative differences regarding occlusal interferences (P =0.05). Conclusions. It was observed influence of oclusal interferences on IMR, modifying its physiological protector effect, it was not observed regarding the dentition stages

Palabras llave : Occlusal interference; inhibitory masseteric reflex; children; electromyography.