The aim of this study was to analyze the repeatability in a stereophotogrammetry digital system used for the evaluation of facial morphology. Thirty healthy Brazilian, 18 to 45 years old (26.71 ± 6.53), had 11 reference landmarks marked on their faces by the same examiner and were photographed with an interval of 1 week by the VECTRA M3. Nine angular measurements (nasolabial, mentolabial, nasofrontal, maxillofacial, nasal, maxillary, mandibular, facial convexity, full facial convexity) and 2 linear measurements (middle facial height and lower facial height) were taken. Repeatability was analyzed by the mean absolute differences, relative error of magnitude, technical error of measurement, intraclass correlation coefficient, and Bland–Altman analysis. Paired t test sought any systematic errors between the acquisitions. Associations among body mass index, age, and the error in the measurements were made using the Pearson correlation coefficient. For the technical error of measurement, the nasolabial and mentolabial angles showed values >2° (clinical limit set for this study). For the relative error of measurement, most of the measures were rated between good and excellent. The maxillofacial angle was only moderate. There was a systematic error for middle facial height. The nasolabial, mentolabial, facial convexity, full facial convexity, maxillofacial, and nasofrontal angles presented intraclass correlation coefficient values rated as excellent. The relationship between age/body mass index and the error found between measurements was not confirmed. The nasolabial and mentolabial angles should be interpreted with caution due to the variability showed. The results found stereophotogrammetry to be repeatable, giving accurate measures within the references established for this study.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are manifested as a group of signs and symptoms that affect a particular population profile. Some variables such as sex and age influence the clinical expression of this condition. This observational descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to correlate the severity of TMD established by the craniomandibular index (CMI) with the variables: age, sex and electromyographic activity of the masseter and anterior temporal muscles. Fifty-four subjects (15 males/39 females) aged between 16 to 65 years (mean age = 41 years) and diagnosed with TMD were evaluated. Severity was determined by the CMI. These subjects also underwent examination by surface electromyography of the masseter and anterior temporal muscles. No correlation was found between age and severity of TMD (p=0.19/r=0.16), however there was a trend of greater severity in young adults (25-50 years). The sex variable in the correlation was positive with the CMI (p=0.03/r=-0.96) and superior to women. A greater EMG activity of the anterior temporal in relation to masseter (p=0.01) was found and the left temporal activity had the highest average (161.5 ± 44.6 Hz). The electromyographic activity of the anterior temporal and right masseter muscles was positively correlated with the Dysfunction Index CMI (p=0.01). The use of CMI to quantify the severity of TMD and of EMG to assess the functionality of the masticatory muscles can be important allies to direct the treatment.

Patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) often complain and have limitation in masticatory function, which can be affected by a complex interaction of factors. The aim of this study was analyze the masticatory function in patients with TMD using surface electromyography (EMG) and masticatory efficiency (ME). Twenty-seven patients with TMD and 25 considered control (n), aged between 18 and 60 years, paired by age and gender, were evaluated according to RDC/TMD. In both groups were performed: EMG with chewing gum, clinical evaluation of habitual chewing with stuffed cookie (CE) (number of chewing strokes and time) and analysis of ME with fuchsin beads. Nonparametric statistical analyses were used (Mann-Whitney) for comparisons between groups, with 5% significance level. For all variables, the TMD group showed higher values than the control, with statistical significance for ME (p<0.0001), number of chewing strokes (p=0.04), chewing time (p=0.009), right masseter EMG activity (p=0.05), left masseter (p=0.005), right anterior temporal (p=0.05) and left anterior temporal (p=0.001). The conclusion is that patients with TMD showed changed chewing pattern, but without impairment of masticatory function.

Objective: To characterize short- and long-term assessment of the low-intensity laser therapy (LLLT) effectiveness in women with TMD of muscular origins and to evaluate whether the information about the treatment received (active or placebo) modifies the pain intensity. Methods: Forty-one women with painful TMD (31.7 ± 5.2 years) were divided into laser (n = 20) and placebo (n = 21) groups. The pain intensity was measured at the baseline, after the LLLT (T8), 6 and 12 months. At the 6-month follow-up, the groups received information about the active or placebo treatment. Results: At T8 and 6-month, both active and placebo LLLT were effective in reducing pain (p < .05). After one year, the groups showed similar pain. Active LLLT was more effective in reducing pain palpation (p = .001) and referred pain (p = .04) in the region of the TMJs. The information about the treatment modified the perceived pain intensity. Conclusion: Active and placebo LLLT are effective for painful TMD of muscular origins in the short-term. Information about the treatment impairs the subjective perception of pain.