Checking the manufacturing of Simões Network 10 – SN10 through surface electromyography (sEMG) – case report study

1. Introduction

Jaw Functional Orthopedics (JFO) is a growing field with very interesting clinical results in the treatment of malocclusion, dentofacial development problems [1-7] and Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) [8,9], but still needs stronger scientific basis [10-12].

Information about the use of Bionator, Twin Block, Fränkel Function Regulators for class II treatment is available in the literature. O’Brien et al. [13] reported improvement in the antero posterior relationship of the mandible with use of Twin Block in Class II treatment and very positive psychosocial improvement of the teen agers due to facial esthetic improvement. Santamaria-Villegas et al. [14] in a systematic review reported that mandibular advancement with Twin Block, Bionator, Harvold Activator, Fränkel Functional Regulator and Sander Bite Jumping. Cozza et al. [15] reported the success of mandibular advancement in the treatment of classe II malocclusion, also in a systematic review that includes several types of functional appliances, some fixed as the Herbst, for instance, other removable like twin block, Fänkel regulator and so on.

None of the studies report improvement with Bimler, Planas, Simões and Santiago appliances. Despite the fact that these appliances very much used in Brazil have no RCT showing their efficiency, clinical results lead to try to understand what these appliances do with the stomatognathic muscles [16]. The in middle of the XX century, Moyers [17] reported the use of electromyography (EMG) to study the behavior of the stomatognathic muscles in class II malocclusion and their behavior in the mandibular movement [18].

Based on the results obtained by Sakai [16], the objective of this study is proposing a method using surface electromyography to check if manufactured Simões Network 10 – SN10 [19] is properly done.

2. Methods

One of the patients treated in the specialization course of Jaw Functional Orthopedics JFO, have prescription of the SN10. The treatment protocol includes diagnosis: Anamnesis, physical and Functional exams, lateral tele radiography with Bimler and Petrovic cephalometry, tele radiography in normal head position (NHP) with Rocabado Cephalometry), Planas Gnatostathic diagnostic protocol (casts and gnatostathic records), mouth and body photos and films. After completing the diagnosis, the 11 years old boy with Angle Class II, superior incisor protrusion received his functional orthopedic appliance (FOA). The therapeutic mandibular posture change (TMPC) was made advancing the mandible until the incisal third of the buccal surface of the inferior incisors touch the incisal third of the palatine surface of the superior incisors, this touch is called touch in determined area (DA) [19]. The FOA SN10 was chosen because the patent had a retrognathia and the vertical aspect is normal so the mandibular advancement does not need a significant vertical dimension increase. This can be the indication to prescribe the Simões Network 1 (SN1) [19] too. The election of the SN10 as due to three basic aspects: the range of the protrusive movement of the patient is short so it is interesting to use Fränkel anterior inferior pads of its adaptations [19] that is present in the SN10 FOA; the need for mandibular transversal stimulation was small, for such there was no need of an inferior expansion screw and the SN10 occupies less space on the mouth being more comfortable to the tongue improving use conditions of the FOA by the patient.

The sEMG was used because it is the better way to check the muscular activity behavior of the patient with the FOA and Sakai [16] protocol was used because it is able to register the studied muscles activity changes due to FOA use. It was collected in two times T1 before installation of the FOA in mouth, T2 15 minutes after the FOA installation in the mouth. sEMG data of bilateral masseter, bilateral temporal and bilateral suprahyoid muscles were done in three conditions: rest position of the mandible, isometric contraction with FOA and isometric contraction without FOA. The Ambiental conditions were controlled, especially electromagnetic area isolation, following ISEK protocol. A conditioner signals module from Lynx Electronics Ltda with 8 channels, model EMG1000; software AqDAnalysis 4,18 from Lynx Electronics Ltda.; Software Lynx BioInspector 1,8r; passive surface electrodes (Ag/AgCl) from Noraxon Dual Electrodes (USA); dischargeable reference electrodes Kendall Meditrace (Ag/AgCl) - Canada were used for the sEMG measurements. Frequency calibration was 2000 Hz, with 2048 sample by channel and time 1,024 seconds, and filters regulation was 20 Hz and 1000 Hz. No normalization analysis, were used and all sEMG signals were registered in T1 and T2 for 5 seconds. All tutors signed a free and informed consent form. The investigation was realized under the consent of Ethic Committee of Universidade Federal de Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Brazil under protocol 159/2004. SN10 appliance were made following instructions contained on Simoes [19].

3. Results

In the sEMg measurements showed in Figs. 1-4 the register of the electric activity of the right and masseter, right and left temporal, and right and left suprahyoid muscles. It can be observed the raise in electric activity of the muscles during isometric contraction with the FOA (T2) and the diminish of the muscle electric activity in the mandibular rest position with the FOA (T2).

Fig. 1Isometric contraction of the individual in T1. In light blue represents the electric activity of the right masseter, in red of the left masseter, in wine color electric of right temporal, in green of the left temporal, in dark blue of the right suprahyoid and in pink of the left suprahyoid

Fig. 2sEMG of the individual in rest position in T1. In light blue represents the electric activity of the right masseter, in red of the left masseter, in wine color electric of right temporal, in green of the left temporal, in dark blue of the right suprahyoid and in pink of the left suprahyoid

Fig. 3sEMG register of isometric contraction of the individual in T2

Fig. 4sEMG of the individual in mandibular rest position in T2. In light blue represents the electric activity of the right masseter, in red of the left masseter, in wine color electric of right temporal, in green of the left temporal, in dark blue of the right suprahyoid and in pink of the left suprahyoid

With the FOA in the mouth all measurements improved with a more symmetrical sEMG in T2 in rest and isometric contraction measurements as can be seen in Fig. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The sEMG in rest position showed and improvement as can be seen comparing Fig. 2 and 4. The electrical activity of the left masseter diminish and improve the symmetry of muscle activity with the FOA. Comparing Fig. 1 and 3 and increase in the electric activity of all muscles studied during isometric contraction can be observed. The FOA generates a better muscle function using less energy in mandibular rest position improving resting conditions and greater electric activity in all studied muscles during isometric contraction allowing better food crushing conditions. Results showed that these appliances (SN10), in these mouths, fifteen minutes after installation had changed muscular memory, giving to these muscles conditions to work better, using less energy, muscles bilaterally equilibrated (anterior temporal, masseter, suprahyoid).

The main limitations of this study are the sample (only one patient tested) which means that results have to be carefully analysed and studies with bigger samples are necessary to confirm the results obtained here and this study do not aim to check treatment results nor clinical like reduction overjet or bone remodeling in image exams due to the use of the appliance. It was just studied the masseter, temporal and suprahyoid muscles behavior due to treatment of class II malocclusion with SN10. Another point is that there is no long term measurement to check if this changes are temporary of permanent

4. Discussion

Nalamlian and Thongudomporn [20] found a improvement of muscle activity in class II treatment but using intermaxillary elastics. Based on logical thinking, what very often does not correspond to scientific evidence, it is expected this improvement since Liu et al. [21] reported improvement in the masseter muscle activity in orthodontic class II treatment and, using transcranial magnetic stimulation reported a change in the central nervous system behavior due to the treatment. Besides these findings, the results of this investigation provide data that showed improvement in the stomatognathic muscles. For sure RCT are necessary to check the findings. If the findings of this case report study are confirmed in studies with a bigger sample the sEMG is a very efficient way to check the precision of FOA construction. Another point to be checked is if with other types of FOA results are the same or it can vary with the type of FOA used or even with the type of malocclusion of the individual.

5. Conclusions

The protocol to check the manufacturing of functional orthopedic appliances using surface EMG proved to be valid in this case report study.

Further investigations are needed to confirm this protocol and check if the same happens with other types of functional orthopedics appliances.