[Effects of orthodontic treatment on the masseter muscle inhibitory reflex].

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the effect of the orthodontic treatment on inhibitory masseteric reflex.

Methods: Twenty-three patients with any type of malocclusion and without any temporomandibular joint dysfunction were studied and treated under arch wire technique with Roth's brackets prescription (0.22" x 0.28"). Electromyographic record of the inhibitory masseteric reflex was obtained before and after orthodontic treatment.

Results: ANOVA test identified not reflex differences between molar relation types; using Student t test for paired data it was identified that with orthodontic treatment (14.65 +/- 2.40 months), the left reflex latency was increased from 6.17 +/- 9.29 ms to 37.00 +/- 66.33 ms (p < 0.05). However the left inhibition duration was decreased from 57.78 +/- 30.70 ms to 35.31 +/- 25.72 ms (p < 0.05), the right inhibition amplitude was decreased from 48.40 +/- 34.44 mV to 28.59 +/- 17.26 mV (p < 0.05) and the left inhibition amplitude was decreased from 40.72 +/- 29.75 mV to 18.73 +/- 17.68 mV (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Orthodontic treatment produced constraint of the masseter inhibitory capacity, which could be a transitory neuromuscular adaptation signal in the presence of sensorial scheme modifications. It is necessary to wait for a longer period of time before a new register to clarify the reflex morphology tendency.