Resumo

FERNANDEZ-VAZQUEZ, José Pedro; OLAY-GARCIA, Sonsoles; GONZALEZ-LAFITA, Pedro  e  GONZALEZ-RICO, María. Morphofunctional relationship between the occlusal plane and the masseter muscle. RCOE [online]. 2003, vol.8, n.5, pp.513-520. ISSN 1138-123X.

Introduction and purpose: The morphofunctional relationship between the masseter muscle (MM) and the occlusal plane hasn‘t been investigated in depth. The main goal of the present study is to prove that the fibres of the MM are located prependiculaly to the occlusal plane. Methods: We have evaluated the relationships between the superficial portion of the MM and the position of the incisers, first lower molar, occlusal plane and the Francfort plane, from tele-radiographs of 21 healthy voluntaries, on whom we had placed an intraoral silicone guide for identifying the MM. Results: The angle that the fibres of the superficial portion of MM formes with the occlusal plane is very variable, from 70 to 90º, with a range of 29º. The average is 80,7º. With the Francfort plane, we had obtained an average of 65,8º with a range of 31,5º. Conclusions: The fibres of the superficial portion of the MM do not run perpendicular to the occlusal plane.

Palavras-chave : Masseter muscle; Occlusion; Occlusal plane; Francfort plane; Teleradiograph.

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