Masticatory muscles pain and dysfunction

Masticatory muscles dysfunction is the most frequent damage to them that is encountered in everyday prosthetics. The most frequent type of muscle dysfunction can also be accompanied by limitation of the mobility of the mandible, and difficulty in chewing. The causes of functional muscle disorders are emotional stress, increased muscle functional activity, various traumas, infectious pathologies, etc. Purpose of the Study: To determine the causes of abdominal muscle dysfunction as well as the methods of its treatment. Material and Method: The study includes about 227 subjects in the age group of 18-45 years, who completed a questionnaire prepared specifically for this topic, and where they provided data: regarding the use of chewing gum, teeth grinding and fatigue of the muscles of the upper extremities. The collected data were statistically analyzed to verify, if there is any correlation between the use of chewing gum and masticatory muscles pain. The treatment of muscle dysfunction and pain is done according to the causes, avoiding trauma, stress and excessive use of gum. In addition to these treatments, in special cases, drug treatment with inflammatory drugs and analgesics, as well as prosthetic treatment has been possible. Results: The study showed that 208 (91.7%) of the examinees used chewing gum. About, 45.8% of those examined used the gum up to 30 minutes, while 54.2% over 60 minutes. Of the examinees, 157 (69.2%) did not feel pain in the chew muscles, while 59 (26%) of the examinees felt pain in the masticatory muscles. According to gender, women predominate where they were around 75.5%, while men 24.5% with prevalence value P=0.046. The examinees had masticatory muscle pain on palpation, which phenomena was observed more in women 84.70%, compared to men, where it was observed in nearly 15.3% of them, with prevalence value P=0.020. From the study, it was observed that there is a significant association between gender and the use of gum, from which it was concluded that women are more regular and frequent users of gum, compared to men, respectively associated with more pronounced pain and dysfunction in muscles with prevalence values P=0.046. Conclusions: From our study, it was concluded that there is a statistically significant relationship between gender and masticatory muscles pain, where 84.7% of women present with pain and in prevalence values P=0.020.