1

MUSCLES OF MASTICATION

By
Rejoy Alexander
1st yr Pg
Dept. of Prosthodontics
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INTRODUCTION
• Food is the main source of energy this energy is
derived through the complicated process of digestion.

• 1st step of digestion is mastication.

• Teeth, jaws, muscles of the jaws, tongue and the

salivary glands aid in mastication.

• Influence of these muscles in prosthetic dentistry.

Defines the borders & peripheral extensions.
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DEFNITIONS
GPT 8
• Muscle : an organ that by contraction produces
movements of an animal; a tissue composed of
contractile cells or fibers that effect movement of
an organ or part of the body.

• Mastication is defined as the process of

chewing food in preparation for swallowing and
digestion.
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• Masticatory muscle : muscles that elevate the

mandible to close the mouth.

• Mainly four pairs of muscles in the mandible make

chewing movements possible.

• These muscles along with accessory ones

together are termed as ‘MUSCLES OF
MASTICATION’.
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• These muscles can be divided into:

• BASIC MUSCLES:

 - TEMPORALIS
 - MASSETER
 - MEDIAL PTERYGOID
 - LATERAL PTERYGOID
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•ACCESSORY MUSCLES

Muscles of tongue, lip & cheek


Suprahyoid muscles :
 Mylohyoid
 geniohyoid
 stylohyoid
 digastric muscle (anterior belly)

Infrahyoid muscles:
 Sternothyroid
 Thyrohyoid
 Omohyoid
 Sternohyoid

complete denture prosthodontics by John J Sharry

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DEVELOPMENT
• The basic muscles of mastication develop from
the mesoderm of the first phyaryngeal arch.
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• So they receive all their innervations from the

mandibular branch of the trigeminal
nerve, all from the anterior division except the
medial pterygoid which gets its nerve supply
from the main trunk.
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MOVEMENTS OF MANDIBLE
• Movements that the mandible can undergo are:

1. Depression: As in opening the mouth.

2. Elevation: As in closing the mouth.

3. Protraction: Horizontal movement of the mandible

anteriorly.

4. Retraction: Horizontal movement of the mandible

posteriorly.

5. Rotation: The anterior tip of the mandible is “slewed”

from side to side.
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• These movements of mandible are performed by various

muscles involved in it. So, functionally, the muscles of
mastication are classified as:

• Jaw elevators:
Masseter
Temporalis
Medial pterygoid

• Jaw depressors:
Lateral pterygoid
Anterior digastric
Geniohyoid
Mylohyoid
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MUSCLES OF MASTICATION
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TEMPORALIS
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TEMPORALIS
It is the largest among all the mastication
muscles and is a fan shape muscle.

It has been divided into 2 heads:

 Deep head (anterior, middle and posterior fibers)
 Superficial head (much smaller)
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Origin:
From the inferior
temporal line , floor of
the temporal fossa and
from the overlying
temporal fascia of the
side of the skull.

Insertion:
Superior
border and medial tip
of the coroniod process.
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• Action:
▫ Elevation (anterior
fibers)
▫ Retraction
(posterior fibers)

• Nerve supply:
▫ Anterior division of
the mandibular
nerve
(by two deep
temporal nerves)
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Its Action is done by

• The anterior fibers during function act vertically and

elevate the mandible.

• The posterior fibers diverge and become horizontal

and retract the mandible.
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• Blood supply: From the maxillary artery

(one of two termination of external carotid
artery).
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PALPATION
The muscle is divided into three functional areas and
therefore each area is independently palpated.

The anterior region is palpated above the zygomatic

arch and anterior to the TMJ .
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The middle region is palpated directly above the

TMJ and superior to the zygomatic arch .
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• The posterior region is palpated above and behind

the ear.
• If uncertainity arises regarding the proper finger
placement. The patient is asked to clench the teeth
together so that the temporal muscle contracts and
the fibers should be felt beneath the finger tips.
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Clinical significance
Recording Coronoid process area

• The patient is instructed to close and move his

mandible from side to side and then
immediately asked to open wide.

• The side to side motion records the activity of

the coronoid process in a closed position
whereas opening causes the coronoid to sweep
past the denture periphery
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LITERATURE REVIEW
Antje Tallgren, Dr.Odont, et al. studied jaw muscle activity in
complete denture wearers – A longitudinal electromyographic
study. J Prosthet Dent August 1980 Vol 44 (2) Pg 123-32.

Tallgren studied the patterns of activity of some masticatory

muscles in partially edentulous subjects & fully edentulous.

The study indicated that loss of posterior teeth causes

imbalance in muscular patterns concerning masseter , anterior
temporal muscle and digastrics muscle and wearing immediate
complete upper and lower dentures revealed inactivity of the
jaw closing muscles during the biting actions.
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Bengt Ingervall, Dr Odont et al. did an electromyographic study

of masticatory and lip function in patient with complete
dentures J Prosthet Dent March 1980 Vol 43(3) pg 266-71

Two groups of patients having new and old dentures were

studied.

The results showed muscle activity during maximal biting was

markedly lower in patients with new denture than in patients
using the old ones
No difference in chewing activity was seen with old and new
dentures
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MASSETER
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MASSETER

It consist of three overlapping layers:


The origin of the whole muscle is mainly from the
zygomatic process which consists of :

The superficial layer

The middle layer

The deep layer

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SUPERFICIAL LAYER

It is the largest component that arises from the anterior two

thirds of the lower border of the zygomatic arch.

Its fibers run downwards and backwards and inserts into

lower half of the ramus including angle of the mandible.
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MIDDLE LAYER

The middle layer takes its orgin from the medial surface of the
anterior two-thirds and the lower border of posterior one third
of the arch.

The fibers run more directly downwards to be inserted into

lateral surface of the middle part of the ramus.
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The deep layer arises from the whole length of medial surface
of the zygomatic arch.

The fibers pass downwards to attach to the upper part of the

mandible ramus.

DEEP HEAD
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• Action of masseter is mainly to elevate the

mandible (antigravity action) and also helps in
protrusive movement.

• It is the main powerful muscle involved in the

elevation of the mandible
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• Nerve supply: By the mandibular branch of the

trigeminal nerve, from the anterior
division(massetric nerve).
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• Blood supply is from the Maxillary artery

which is a terminal branch from external carotid
artery.

• One of the interesting property of this muscle is

that, internally, the muscle has many tendinous
septa that greatly increase the area for muscle
attachment and so increase its power.
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PALPATION
• The patient is asked to clench their teeth and,
using both hands, the practitioner palpates the
masseter muscles on both sides extraorally,
making sure that the patient continues to clench
during the procedure.

• Palpate the origin of the masseter bilaterally

along the zygomatic arch and continue to palpate
down the body of the mandible where the
masseter is attached.
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D-Palpation of the E-Bimanual palpation of

masseter muscles the masseter muscles
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Clinical Significance
On Denture border :
• An active masseter muscle will create a concavity
in the outline of the distobuccal border and a
less active muscle may result in a convex border.

• In this area the buccal flange must converge

medially to avoid displacement due to
contraction of the masseter muscle because the
muscle fibers in that area are vertical and
oblique .
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Effect of masseter muscle on the distobuccal border

A. Moderate activity will create a straight line
B. An active muscle will create a concavity.
C. An inactive muscle will create a convexity.

Impressions for complete denture by Bernard levin

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Activation of Masseteric notch and distal areas.

• Instruct the patient to open wide and then to

close against the resting force of your fingers.
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Opening wide activates the muscles of

pterygomandibular raphe by stretching, which
thereby defines the most distal extension.

Instructing the patient to close against your

fingers on the tray handle causes masseter muscle
to contract and push against the medially situated
buccinator muscle.
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Tempromandibular joint dysfunction.

• The masseter is most often tender along the

central fibers of at its insertion.

• Masseter hypertonicity is found in patients who

have premature contacts on the nonworking
side.

• Parafunctions such as bruxism and clenching

also give rise to masseter pain that is frequently
associated with pain in the temporalis muscle.
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LITERATURE REVIEW
• According to Garrett NR, Kaurich M et. al a cross-sectional
study on Masseter muscle activity in denture wearers with
superior and poor masticatory performance was done.J
Prosthet Dent 1995 Dec vol 74 (6) 628-36.
 

The results indicated that application of more equivalent

force by the right and left masseter muscles during unilateral
chewing is consistent with improved chewing ability in
denture wearers.
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 Jacob R, Van Steenberghe et al. studied on

Masseter muscle fatigue before and after
rehabilitation with implant-supported prostheses. J
Prosthet Dent. 1995 Mar Vol 73(3):284-9.
 
Study was performed in two groups of edentulous patients
One group consisted of patients who were rehabilitated by
means of an implant overdenture and another with an
implant-supported fixed prostheses

A decrease in the biting force and clenching with implant-

supported overdentures was noted. The absence of a spectral
shift expressed a fear of biting too hard and fracturing the
prosthesis when compared with implant fixed prostheses.
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Belser UC and Hannam AG studied the

contribution of the deep fibers of the masseter
muscle to selected tooth-clenching and chewing
tasks. J Prosthet Dent. 1986 Nov; Vol 56(5):629-35

The purpose of this study was to describe functional

behaviour in the deep fibers of the masseter muscle and to
define any differences in its behaviour from that of the
superficial fibers.

During chewing, activity in the deep fibers of masseter

muscle was distributed evenly bilaterally, whereas that in the
superficial fibers of the masseter muscle was biased
significantly toward the chewing side.
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Antje Tallgren, Dr.Odont, et al. studied jaw muscle

activity in complete denture wearers – A longitudinal
electromyographic study. J Prosthet Dent August
1980 Vol 44 (2) Pg 123-32.

Tallgren studied the patterns of activity of some masticatory

muscles in partially edentulous subjects & fully edentulous.

The study indicated that loss of posterior teeth causes

imbalance in muscular patterns concerning masseter , anterior
temporal muscle and digastrics muscle and wearing immediate
complete upper and lower dentures revealed inactivity of the
jaw closing muscles during the biting actions.
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MEDIAL PTERYGOID
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MEDIAL PTERYGOID
• It is also called as the Pterygoideus internus (Internal
pterygoid muscle).

• It consist of Two heads which differ in origin:

The superficial head

The deep head

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◦ SUPERFICIAL HEAD

The superficial head originates from the

maxillary tuberosity.
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The deep head originates from the medial surface

of lateral pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone.

DEEP HEAD
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• The muscle inserts into the inner surface of

the angle of the mandible.

• Nerve supply of the muscle comes from the

main trunk of the mandibular nerve.

• Blood supply is chiefly from the maxillary

artery.
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• Action:

1. Elevates the mandible .

2. Protrusion of the mandible (lateral & medial

pterygoid on one side protrude the mandible to
the opposite side).

3. Side to side movement (these lateral movements

are achieved by lateral & medial pterygoid on
both sides acting together to produce side to
side movements).
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PALPATION
 It can be palpated by placing the finger on the
lateral aspect of the pharyngeal wall of the throat,
this palpation is difficult and sometimes
uncomfortable for the patient.

• Functional manipulation is done when the muscle

becomes fatigued and symptomatic.
The muscle contracts as the teeth are coming in
contact
Also stretches when the mouth is open wide.
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G- Palpation of the medial pterygoid

muscle
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CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
• Mandibular dysfunctions :

The medial pterygoid muscle is not usually

involved in gnathic dysfunctions but when they
are hypertonic, the patient is usually conscious
of a feeling of fullness in the throat and an
occasionally pain on swallowing.
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LITERATURE REVIEW
Wodd WW studied the medial pterygoid muscle
activity during chewing and clenching. J Prosthet
Dent. 1986 May;Vol 55(5): 615-21.

Patterns of medial pterygoid muscle activity were consistent

for ipsilateral chewing

Intercuspal clenching initiated less activity when force was

directed posteriorly and more activity when directed
anteriorly
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LATERAL PTERYGOID
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LATERAL PTERYGOID

• Also called as the Pterygoideus externus

(External pterygoid muscle).

• It is a short conical muscle, having 2 heads:

upper and lower.
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• Upper head:
▫ Origin: infra-temporal surface & crest of the greater
wing of sphenoid
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• Lower head:
▫ Origin: Lateral surface of the lateral pterygoid
plate
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▫ Both the heads have the same insertion

▫ These fibers run backwards and laterally to be

inserted into:
a) Pterygoid fovea of the neck of the mandible
b) Articular disc
c) Capsule of TMJ (anterior aspect)
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• Nerve supply is from the anterior division of

the mandibular branch of trigeminal
nerve(nerve to lateral pterygoid).

• Blood supply of lateral pterygoid muscle is

from maxillary artery .
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• Actions of lateral pterygoid:

1. Depression of the mandible .

2 Side to side movement
(lateral movement) .
3. Protrusion of the mandible.

• If the Pterygoid muscles of one side act,

the other side of the mandible is drawn
forward while the same condyle remains
comparatively fixed.
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PALPATION
• Silverman ( occlusion in prosthodontics and natural
dentition, ed 1 1962) recommended the bilateral use of tip
of little finger of each hand in the back of maxillary
tuberosity and as high as possible to compare the degree of
pain on each side as reported by the patient.

• Schwartz and Chayes ( Facial pain and mandibular

dysfunction ed 1 1968 ) suggested the use of the fore finger
in much the same way.
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F-Palpation of the lateral pterygoid muscles

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• Jeffery P Okeson ( management of tempromandibular

disorders and occlusion, ed. 4 1998) recommended
palpation by functional manipulation, where each
muscle is contracted and then stretched.
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For Inferior lateral pterygoid :

The patient is asked to protrude the mandible against

resistance & Clench on maximum intercuspation
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• For Superior lateral pterygoid muscle:

The muscle contracts and stretches on clenching.

Inorder to differentiate pain arising from elevator
muscle, the patient is asked to open the jaw
wide.
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CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
• Unilateral failure of lateral pterygoid muscle to
contract results in deviation of the mandible toward
the affected side on opening.

• Bilateral failure results in limited opening, loss of

protrusion and loss of full lateral deviation.

• In patients with nonworking side interferences, the

lateral pterygoid muscle on the opposite of the
interference is sometimes painful
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A B
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• The insertion of the lateral pterygoid in the articular disc

occurs in the medial aspect of the anterior border of the
disc and thus it plays a role in the T.M.J. diseases
especially internal derangement.

• Some of the T.M.J. diseases have been due to an

attributed variation of the function and attachment of
the superior head as an etiological factor in T.M.J.
diseases.
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LITERATURE REVIEW

• R. Johnstone and Mc cormick templeton studied the

feasibility of palpating the lateral pterygoid muscle ( J
Prosthet Dent Vol 44 (3) Sept 1980 Pg 318-23) and came to
a conclusion through dissections and lateral head
radiographs that it is not possible to palpate the lateral
pterygoid muscle directly by conventional clinical
techniques without applying pressure through the overlying
superficial head of medial pterygoid muscle.
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• . Stratmann U. et al studied the clinical anatomy and

palpability of the inferior lateral pterygoid muscle ( J Prosthet
dent 2000 May VOL 83(5):548-54) and came to a conclusion
that the inferior lateral pterygoid muscle palpation technique
should no longer be considered as a standard clinical
procedure because it is nearly impossible to palpate the
muscle anatomically and because the risk of false-positive
findings (by palpation of the medial pterygoid muscle) is high.
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ACCESSORY MUSCLES OF MASTICATION

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BUCCINATOR
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BUCCINATOR:

• It is an accessory muscle of mastication,

occupying the gap between mandible and
maxilla forming important part of the cheek.

• Its origin is from the maxilla and mandible

adjacent to the molar teeth and from the
pterygomandibular raphe
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Course and insertion :

Upper fibers gets inserted into upper lip,

Lower fibers gets inserted into lower lip,

Middle fibers decussate at the angle of the mouth, the upper

fibers pass to lower lip while the lower fibers pass to the upper
lip .
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• Nerve supply is from buccal branch of facial

nerve.

• Blood supply is from facial artery.

• The main action of buccinator is to prevent

the accumulation of food in the vestibule of
mouth and to bring the food on to the occlusal
table during mastication.
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CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
• On Denture border :
For buccal flange area in mandibular
impressions.

The area is moulded by massaging the cheek in an

anterior-posterior direction using moderate manual
pressure against the compound.
This moves the fibers of the buccinators muscle and
the tissues of the cheek in the direction of
functional action of the buccinators muscle.
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• In maxillary impressions:

• The cheek is manually molded in anterior-

posterior direction using slight finger pressure
against the compound or the patient is
instructed to control the amount of movement
by sucking action.
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ANTERIOR BELLY OF DIGASTRIC:

Origin:
It arises from the digastric
fossa on the lower border of
mandible on both sides of
symphysis menti.
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• Insertion; into the intermediate tendon which

is connected to the hyoid bone by a fibrous loop.

• Nerve supply; is through anterior division of

mandibular branch of trigeminal nerve.

• Action; its main action is to depress the

mandible .
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ANTERIOR BELLY AND ITS ACTION

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MYLOHYOID MUSCLE:

• It forms the floor of the mouth.

• Origin is from mylohyoid line on the internal

aspect of mandible.

• Insertion; The fibers slops downwards and

forwards to inter-digitate with the fibers of the
other side to form the median raphe.
• This median raphe insert in the chin from above
and the hyoid bone from below.
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• Action: MYLOHYOID MUSCLE

Elevates hyoid bone,

supports and raises floor
of mouth which aids in
early stage of swallowing,
depress the mandible.

• Nerve supply:
By nerve to mylohyoid:
which is a branch of
Inferior alveolar branch of
mandibular nerve, which
originates before it enters
inferior alveolar canal.
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• Blood supply: by Facial artery and Lingual

artery.

• This muscle provides a separation between the

submandibular and sublingual salivary glands.
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CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
• On denture borders :
Mylohyoid area.
Instruct the patient to place the tip of his tongue
into the upper and lower vestibules on the right and
left side.
The area to be molded is reheated and the patient
and is instructed to swallow two or three times in
rapid succession.
The tongue movements raise the level of the floor of
the mouth through contraction of the mylohyoid
muscle.
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GENIOHYOID:

• Origin:
From inferior genial tubercle (in the midline of
inner surface of mandible).

• Insertion: is into the hyoid bone.

• Action: depresses the mandible.

• Blood supply: is through lingual artery.

• Nerve supply: is by hypolossal nerve.

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GENIOHYOID
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ORBICULARIS ORIS:
• It has two parts: intrinsic and extrinsic part.

• Intrinsic part is a very thin sheet and originates

from superior and inferior incisivus from maxilla
& mandible. It inserts into the angle of mouth.

• The extrinsic part is actually formed by elevator

and depressor muscles of the lips and inserts
into the angle of the mouth.

• The orbicularis oris functions is to compress the

lips against the teeth and close the oral orifice
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ORBICULARIS ORIS
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CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
• For mandibular impressions :
On recording Labial flange and labial frenum
The lip is massaged from side to side to mold the
compound to desired functional extension.
In order to activate the mentalis muscle the patient
is asked to pout or lick his lower lip.
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• For maxillary impressions in labial flange and

labial frenum area.
Manually mold the compound by externally
moving the lip side to side, simultaneously
applying finger pressure to control the width of
the border
Lift the patients upper lip and vertically place
the frenum into the softened compound and
mold with your fingers using a side to side
external motion
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STYLOHYOID
 Orgin :
It arises from the posterior and lateral surface
of the styloid process of the temporal bone.

 Insertion :
Is inserted into the body of the hyoid bone, at
its junction with the greater cornu, and just superior
the omohyoid muscle.

 Action : draws the hyoid bone upward, backward

and elongates the floor of the mouth
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STYLOHYOID
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• INFRAHYOID MUSCLES:

The origin and insertion of this group of muscles

have no particular significance in complete denture
prosthodontics insofar having any influence in
denture borders.

The action of these muscles is important to the

prosthodontist, for they are a part of kinetic chain of
mandibular movement. Their action is to fix or
depress the hyoid bone so that the suprahyoid
muscles can act.
TEXTBOOK OF COMPLETE DENTURES – CHARLES M HEARTWELL
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SUMMARY OF THE ANATOMY AND FUNCTION

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CHEWING
• Two separate acts are recognized in the chewing
process.

• First is a combination of prehension and incision

in which the food is secured by the lips and
bitten by the front teeth.

• The second is mastication, the major activity

during which the food is mashed between the
back teeth.
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• The total chewing cycle occurs through three phases:

1. The opening stroke during which the mandible is

lowered.

2. The beginning closing stroke during which the

mandible is rapidly raised until the entrapped food
is felt and

3. The power stroke in which the food is compressed,

punctured, crushed and sheared.
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CHEWING MOVEMENTS AND MECHANICS

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• The chewing process generally acts as a 2nd order

lever system resulting in compression at TMJ.
• The turning moment generated along
mandibular body and ramus creates a sheer at
Tempromandibular joint.
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• Chewing in humans is actually asymmetrical and

unilateral.

• At the working side:

• It possesses the greatest adductor force, but
articular emminence is less substantially loaded.

• At the balancing side:

• It possesses the less adductor force and the
articular emminence is substantially loaded.
• At the initial action, contraction of inferior head of
lateral pterygoid muscle occurs to initiate
mandibular deviation to working side.
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MASTICATORY MUSCLE DISORDERS

• Some of the common masticatory muscle
disorders involve:

• Congenital hyperplasia/ hypoplasia

• Hypermobility/ hypomobility of the muscle
• Muscle pains
• MPDS
• Myositis ossificans etc.
 106

CONGENITAL HYPOPLASIA/ HYPERPLASIA

• It occurs very rarely, and is more common in

masseter and orbicularis oris.

• Its oral symptoms include enlargement or

decreased size of the affected muscle, which may
show an asymmetric facial pattern and stiffness in
the temporo-mandibular joint.

• It may or may not be associated with

hypermobility/ hypomobility of the muscles.
 107

MUSCLE HYPERMOBILITY/ HYPOMOBILITY

• This disorder involves extreme or diminished
activity of the masticatory muscles.

• Its etiology includes various factors such as:

• Decreased/ increased threshold potential of neural
activity.
• Parkinsonism
• Facial paralysis
• Nerve decompression
• Secondary involvement of systemic diseases.
 108

MUSCLE PAINS
• It usually occurs as a result of reflex protective
mechanism and myofacial triggers.

• It is usually felt as a non-pulsatile variable aching

sensation, with a boring quality. It may also present with
tightness, weakness, swelling or tenderness.

• It includes 3 types:
1. local muscle soreness:
it is a primary hyperalgesia with lowered pain threshold
due to local factors such as stress, injury, infection etc.
 109
• This may be due to:
1. distortion of blood vessels within the muscle or
2. forceful or sustained contraction repeatedly.

2. Muscle splinting pain:

it is defined as rigidity of the muscle occuring as a
means of avoiding pain caused by movement of the
part.

it is a reflex protective mechanism.

Splinting of masticatory muscle may occur as a protective

mechanism in conditions such as toothache,
overstressed teeth, effect of local anaesthetics, trauma
etc.
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3. Non-spastic myofacial pains:

There is no spasm and pain is the only complaint
and this is generally referred to structures
outside the muscle proper.

it may be due to atrophied muscle mass because

of inactivity, illness or nutritional deficiency.
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ZONES OF REFFERED PAIN

• The masseter muscle pain refers to the ear, TMJ and
the mandibular teeth.

• The temporalis refers to the temple, orbit and maxillary

teeth.

• The medial pterygoid refers to the infra-auricular and

post-mandibular area.

• The lateral pterygoid always refers its pain to the TMJ.

 112

MYOFACIAL PAIN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME

(MPDS)

• Muscular Disorders (Myofacial Pain Disorders)

are the most common cause of TMJ pain
associated with masticatory muscles.

• Common etiologies include:

1. Many patient with “high stress level”
2. Poor habits including gum chewing, bruxism,
hard candy chewing
3. Poor dentition
 113

• Its treatment includes 4 phases of therapy which

includes muscle exercises and drugs involving
NSAIDs and muscle relaxants.

• A bite appliance is also worn by the patient in

the furthur stages to ‘splint’ the muscle
movement.
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MYOSITIS OSSIFICANS
• It is a condition wherein fibrous tissue and
heterotropic bone forms within the interstitial tissue
of muscle, as well as in associated tendons or
ligaments.

• It is of two types: localized and generalized.

A. Localized myositis ossificans:

• It is caused by trauma or heavy muscular strains or
by metaplasia of pluripotential intermuscular
cnnective tissue.
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• The affected site remains swollen and tender,

and the overlying skin may be red and inflamed.

• There may present a difficulty in the opening of

the mouth.

• management is done by giving sufficient rest to

the muscle and excision of the involved muscle
after the process has stopped.
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B. Generalized myositis ossificans:

• In this, formation of bone in tendons and fascia
occurs alongwith subsequent replacement of muscle
mass by the bony tissue.

• The masseter muscle is the most frequently

involved.

• It usually occurs in children less than 6 years of age.

• It shows an evidence of dense osseous structures in

the greater part or whole of the muscle.
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• There is a gradual increase in stiffness and

limitation in the motion of masticatory muscles.
Ultimately, the entire muscle may get
transformed into bone resulting in no
movement.

• Management: there is no specific treatment. The

muscles involved are to be excised.
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CONCLUSION
• The masticatory muscles include a vital part of the
orofacial structure and are important both
functionally and structurally.
• It can be influenced by a variety of factors many of
which are controlled by the practicing
prosthodontist namely
 During functional impression making
 Accurate recording of various clinical
parameters like vertical dimension, centric relation
 Morphology of artificial tooth
 Maintenance of arch form
 119

• The proper management and periodical self-

examination of the muscles may provide a
greater chance of catching the disease process at
an early stage which may be useful for its better
prognosis.
 120

REFERENCES
• Human anatomy by B.D. Chaurasia, 3rd ed.
• Human anatomy by dental students by M.K.Anand,
1st ed.
• Complete denture prosthodontics by John J sharry.
• Mastering the art of complete denture by
Alexander R Halperin.
• Anatomy for dental students by D.R Johnson and
W.J Moore
• Burkits oral medicine diagnosis & treatment 10th
edition.
• Textbook of Complete dentures by Charles M
Heartwell
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• Management of Tempromandibular disorders and

occlusion by Jeffrey P Okeson 4 rth ed.
• Impressions for complete dentures by Bernard Levin.
• Jaw muscle activity in complete denture wearers by
Antje Tallgren, Dr Odont. J Prosthet dent aug 1980
vol 44(2) 123-32
• Feasibility of palpating the lateral pterygoid by R
Johnstone and Mc Cormick templeton J Prosthet
Dent 1980 Vol 44(3) 318-321.
• An Electromyographic study of masticatory and lip
muscle functions in patients with complete dentures
by Bengt Ingervall, Dr Odont et al. J Prosthet Dent
March 1980 Vol 43(3) 266-71
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